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THE 


BOOK  OF  BIRDS; 

INTENDED  FOR  THE  AMUSEMENT  AND  INSTRUCTION 


OF 


YOUNG  PEOPLE. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  SIXTEEN  ELEGANT  PLATES, 


Philadelphia: 

GEORGE  S.  APPLETON,  164  CHESTNUT  ST. 

NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  & CO.,  200  BROADWAY. 

1860. 

A 

t % 


Entered  aocording  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849,  by 
GEO.  S.  APPLETON, 

in  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


59^.2. 

"B  6 ^ 

REMOTE  - 


OF  BIRDS. 


No  class  of  the  animal  kingdom  is  more  interesting  than 
Birds.  Their  infinite  variety  of  form,  habits,  and  manners ; 
their  plumage,  always  beautiful,  often  rich  and  gorgeous ; 
their  powers  of  flight  and  grace  of  motion,  their  curious 
nests,  their  varied  music;  the  bittern’s  boom,  the  cawing  of 
the  busy  rooks,  the  cock’s  shrill  clarion,  the  capricious  lay 
of  the  mocking-bird,  or  the  sweet  warbling  of  the  oriole — • 
nay,  even  the  hoarse  cries  of  the  sea-birds,  and  the  garrulous 
clucking  of  the  barn-fowls — these  all  combine  to  endear  us 
to  the  feathered  creation,  since  all  are  appropriate — all  are 
the  voice  of  Nature.  The*  birds  are  associated  with  many 
delightful  scenes  dear  to  memory. 

Who  sees  the  swallow  on  his  first  return  and  dreams  not 


vi 


OF  BIRDS. 


of  spring  in  times  long  past  ? Who  hears  the  song  of  the 
blue  bird  or  the  bob-o-link  without  a delightful  reminiscence 
of  school-boy  days,  ready  to  repeat  with  Wordsworth : 

“ And  I can  listen  to  thee  yet, 

And  lie  upon  the  plain ; 

And  listen  till  I do  beget 
That  golden  time  again.” 

Hence  it  is  that,  although  all  birds  are  interesting,  the 
birds  of  our  own  country  are  most  attractive.  We  have 
marked  their  ways ; we  have  watched  them  building  their 
nests  and  rearing  their  young;  we  have  listened  to  their 
ringing  notes  when  “ creeping  like  snail  unwillingly  to 
school,”  and  longing  for  a ramble  in  the  fields.  They  are 
associated  with  all  our  rural  pleasures,  all  our  holiday 
sports ; and  we  love  them  for  their  being  indissolubly  linked 
in  our  memories  with  a happy  past. 

The  characteristics  which  distinguish  birds  from  the  other 
classes  of  vertebrated  animals,  are  that  they  lay  eggs,  from 
which  their  young  are  hatched  by  what  is  called  incubation ; 
their  skins  are  covered  with  feathers,  and  their  jaws  are 
horny,  without  teeth.  Their  blood  is  warm  and  circulates 


OF  BIRDS. 


Vll 


like  that  of  the  Mammalia.  The  six  orders  of  birds,  are 
as  follows : S 

1.  Raptor  es,  or  birds  of  prey.  These  birds  are  distin- 
guished by  a very  strong  and  sharp  bill  more  or  less  curved, 
but  always  hooked  at  the  extremity  of  the  upper  mandible, 
which  is  covered  at  the  base  with  a kind  of  skin  called  the 
cere.  The  nostrils  are  usually  open.  The  legs  are  very 
strong,  and  generally  only  partially  covered  with  feathers ; 
the  feet  are  large,  and  the  toes,  which  are  four  in  number, 
are  armed  with  very  strong,  sharp,  curved,  prehensile  claws. 
The  principal  raptorial  birds  are  the  vultures,  including  the 
condor;  the  falcon  family,  including  the  eagles,  hawks, 
kites,  and  buzzards ; and  the  owls. 

2.  Insessores , or  perching  birds.  These  birds  have  all  feet 
formed  for  perching,  the  hind  toe  springing  from  the  same 
place  as  the  other  toes,  which  gives  them  great  power  of 
grasping.  Their  legs  are  of  moderate  length,  and  their 
claws  not  sharply  curved.  This  order  includes  the  thrushes, 
nightingales,  and  all  the  finest  songsters  of  our  groves,  with 
the  robin-redbreast,  the  sparrow,  and  other  birds  seen  about 
dwellings,  the  swallows,  the  larks,  the  crow  family,  the  king- 
fishers, the  birds  of  paradise,  and  the  humming  birds. 


OF  BIRDS. 


Vlll 

3.  Scansores,  or  climbers.  These  birds  have  two  toes 
before  and  two  behind,  or  rather  they  have  the  power  of 
throwing  one  of  the  fore  toes  back  at  pleasure.  This  con- 
struction gives  them  such  great  power  of  climbing,  that  they 
can  ascend  the  perpendicular  trunk  of  a tree.  The  princi- 
pal birds  in  this  order  are  the  parrot  family  and  the  wood- 
peckers. 

4.  Rasores , or  gallinaceous  birds.  These  birds  have  the 
head  small  in  proportion  to  the  body.  The  bill  is  generally 
short,  with  the  other  mandible  somewhat  curved,  and  fur- 
nished with  a cere.  The  nostrils  have  usually  a protecting 
fleshy  membrane.  The  tarsus,  or  lower  part  of  the  leg,  is 
long  and  bare,  and  there  are  four  toes,  those  in  front  being 
united  by  a slight  membrane,  while  that  behind  is  generally 
higher  up  the  leg,  and  smaller  than  the  others.  This 
order  comprises  nearly  all  the  birds  used  as  food,  and  it 
includes  the  peacock,  the  turkey,  the  common  cock  and 
hen,  the  partridge,  the  pheasant,  and  the  pigeon  family. 

5.  Gr allator es,  or  Waders.  These  birds  are  characterized 
by  their  long  and  slender  legs,  and  generally  bare  thighs. 
Their  feet  have  generally  three  toes,  more  or  less  united  at 
the  base  by  a web,  and  the  central  toe  is  often  longer  and 


OF  BIRDS. 


IX 


stronger  than  the  rest ; the  hind  toe  is  sometimes  wanting. 
This  order  contains  the  ostrich  family,  the  bustards  and 
plovers  ; the  cranes,  herons,  and  storks ; and  the  snipes  and 
woodcocks. 

6.  Palmipedes,  or  web-footed  birds.  These  birds  have 
the  legs  and  feet  short,  and  placed  behind,  with  their  fore 
toes  united  by  a thick  and  strong  membrane.  The  neck  is 
much  longer  than  the  legs,  and  their  bodies  are  covered 
with  a dense  layer  of  down,  beneath  the  outer  plumage, 
which  is  close,  and  imbued  with  an  oily  fluid  that  repels  the 
water.  The  principal  birds  in  this  order  are  the  coots  and 
grebes,  the  auks  and  penguins,  the  petrels,  the  pelican  and 
cormorant,  and  the  swans,  ducks,  and  geese. 

Not  only  does  the  form  of  the  bird  fit  it  for  flying,  but 
its  lungs  are  extended  by  means  of  air-cells  extending  among 
the  muscles;  and  its  bones  are  hollow,  and  not  filled  with 
marrow,  but  with  air.  Other  circumstances  in  their  internal 
structure  serve  to  facilitate  the  flight  of  birds,  and  to  make 
them  quite  at  ease  when  on  the  wing. 

In  variety  birds  far  exceed  quadrupeds.  There  are  many 
thousand  species,  distinguished  from  each  other  by  differ- 


X 


OF  BIRDS. 


ences  of  configuration,  colour,  and  habits;  but  the  grand 
distinctions  are  so  few  that  a tolerably  correct  idea  of  this 
part  of  the  animal  kingdom  may  be  formed,  even  by  such 
a general  and  succinct  view  as  that  which  we  propose  to 
give  to  the  reader ; and  we  hope,  by  enlivening  our  descrip- 
tions with  occasional  illustrative  anecdotes,  to  render  our 
account  interesting  as  well  as  instructive. 


CONTENTS. 


THE  CONDOR  . . . . % . 

THE  TURKEY-BUZZARD 

THE  WASHINGTON  EAGLE 

THE  WHITE-HEADED;  OR  BALD  EAGLE  . 

THE  FALCON 

THE  OSPREY;  OR  FISHING-HAWK  . 

THE  AMERICAN  GOSHAWK  . 

THE  HAWK  OWL 

THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL  . 

TH#  SWALLOW 

THE  CHIMNEY  SWALLOW 

THE  BANK  SWALLOW 

11 


PAGE 

21 

25 

26 

29 

31 

35 

36 

38 

39 

45 

47 

47 


CON  FB  NTS, 


xii 


THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE  .... 

THE  ROBIN 

THE  NIGHTINGALE 

THE  RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD,  OR  TROOPIAL 

THE  SKYLARK 

THE  CARDINAL  BIRD  .... 

THE  MOCKING-BIRD 

THE  CROW  . . 

THE  WHIP-POOR-WILL  .... 

THE  CUCKOO 

THE  KINGFISHER 

THE  GREEN  WOODPECKER 

THE  TOUCAN 

THE  CAROLINA  PARROT  .... 

THE  PEACOCK 

THE  TURKEY 

THE  PINTADO,  OR  GUINEA  HEN  . 

THE  TAME  PIGEON  .... 

THE  OSTRICH 

THE  CASSOWARY 

THE  WHOOPING  CRANE  .... 
THE  BLACK-NECKED  STILT 


. 48 
52 
. 55 
58 

. 62 
64 
. 67 
70 
. 74 
76 
. 78 

79 
. 79 

80 
. 85 

86 
. 87 
89 
. 90 
^93 
.94 
97 


CONTENTS, 


THE  FLAMINGO  .... 

Wilson’s  stormy  petrel 

THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER 
THE  GREAT  HERON  . 

THE  WOOD  IRIS  .... 

THE  SNOW  GOOSE  . . 

THE  WANDERING  ALBATROSS  . 

THE  SWAN 

THE  CINEREOUS  COOT 
THE  SUMMER,  OR  WOOD  DUCK 
THE  COMMON  DUCK,  OR  MALLARD 
THE  CANVAS  S-BACK  DUCK 

THE  PELICAN 

THE  CORMORANT  . . . . 

THE  BLACK  AND  WHITE  GULL  . 

THE  GREAT  TERN 

THE  PURPLE  GALLINULE  . 

THE  GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER,  OR  LOON  . 
THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL 

THE^EIDER  DUCK 

THE  CANADA  GOOSE  .... 
THE  SKUA  GULL 


xiii 

PAGE 

99 

101 

105 

111 

118 

119 

122 

125 

127 

131 

137 

139 

148 

151 

152 

154 

155 
159 
161 
167 
169 
175 


XIV 


CONTENTS, 


THE  WOODCOCK 
THE  GREAT  AUK  . 
THE  SNIPE 
THE  CAROLINA  RAIL 
THE  RUFE 


. 178 
183 
. 184 
189 
. 196 


THE 


BOOK  OF  BIRDS. 


THE  CONDOR,  {Sarcoramphm  gryphus.') 

The  first  order  of  birds,  Raptor es,  includes  Vultures, 
Falcons,  and  Owls.  They  are  distinguished  by  a strong 
curved  bill,  fitted  for  tearing  flesh,  having  on  each  side 
towards  the  end  a projection,  like  a tooth;  the  base  is  fre- 
quently covered  with  a naked  membrane,  called  a cere; 
the  legs  are  short,  and  the  claws  sharp-pointed  and  con- 
siderably curved.  It  is  a remarkable  fact  that  the  females 
of  birds  of  prey,  unlike  those  of  the  other  orders,  are  rather 
larger  and  more  powerful  than  the  males. 

The  Vultures  generally  have  no  feathers  on  the  head  and 
upper-  part  of  the  neck,  a peculiarity  which  enables  them 
to  feed  more  easily  on  carrion,  which  is  their  favourite 
food.  Of  these  the  most  remarkable  is  the  Condor.  Mr. 
Nuttall  says  that  the  Condor  derives  its  name  from  an 
Indian  word  which  alludes  to  its  supposed  sagacious  scent, 


22 


THE  CONDOR. 


It  inhabits  the  whole  chain  of  the  Andes  of  Mexico,  Pern, 
Chili,  and  Patagonia  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan,  and,  on  the 
authority  of  Lewis  and  Clarke,  they  are  sometimes  seen  in 
the  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  towards  the  sources  of 
the  Missouri.  Their  peculiar  residence  is  the  great  chain 
of  the  high  Andes,  where  they  associate  three  or  four  together 
upon  the  points  of  cliffs  without  either  fearing  or  injuring 
men,  so  that  they  may  be  approached  within  four  yards  with- 
out showing  alarm,  or  making  on  their  part  any  attempt  at 
attack.  Hardly  an  instance  is  really  known  of  their  even 
assaulting  an  infant,  though  some  credulous  naturalists, 
with  the  exaggerating  privilege  of  travellers,  have  given 
accounts  of  their  killing  young  persons  of  ten  or  twelve  years 
of  age.  Their  ability  for  such  rapine  is  not  to  be  doubted, 
but  their  natural  cowardice  forbids  the  attempt.  At  the 
same  time,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  them  follow  and  hover 
around  a young  bull  until  they  have  torn  out  his  eyes  and 
tongue. 

A pair  of  Condors  will  not  only  in  this  way  attack  the 
deer  of  the  Andes,  the  puma  or  American  lion  (our 
panther),  the  vicogne,  and  the  llama  (or  American  camel), 
but  also  the  wild  heifer.  They  will  pursue  it  for  a long 
time,  occasionally  wounding  it  with  their  bill  and  claws,  until 
the  unfortunate  animal,  now  stifled  and  overcome  with 
fatigue,  extends  its  tongue  and  groans ; on  which  occasion 
the  Condor  seizes  this  member,  being  a very  tender  and 
favorite  morsel,  and  tears  out  the  eyes  of  his  prey,  which  at 


THE  CONDOR. 


23 


length  falls  prostrate  to  the  earth  and  slowly  expires.  The 
Condor  then  gorges  himself;  and  rests  in  stupidity,  and 
almost  gluttonous  inebriation,  perched  upon  the  highest 
neighbouring  rocks.  The  formidable  hunter,  now  loaded  with 
his  meal,  may  be  driven  about  without  his  attempting  to 
fly ; and  in  this  state  the  Indians  sometimes  pursue  them 
with  the  lasso  or  noose,  and  easily  take  them  captive.  Thus 
restrained,  the  Condor  makes  extraordinary  efforts  to  rise 
into  the  air ; but  fatigued  by  the  attempt,  he  begins  to 
disgorge  himself-  freely,  an  effort  he  appears  to  assist  by 
lengthening  and  shortening  the  neck,  and  bringing  forward 
the  sheath  of  his  beak.  They  will  approach  dwellings  when 
allured  by  the  scent  of  food ; and  a dead  animal  will  draw 
down  a crowd  of  these  gluttons,  where  none  at  the  time  are 
at  all  visible ; they  tear  and  eat  with  the  greatest  voracity, 
pushing  sometimes  with  their  feet,  and  flapping  their 
wings. 

They  make  no  nest,  but  deposit  their  eggs  upon  the  naked 
rock ; these  are  two,  wholly  white,  and  three  or  four  inches 
in  length.  It  is  said  that  the  female  remains  with  her 
young  for  the  space  of  a year.  The  young  Condor  has  no 
feathers.  His  body,  for  several  months,  is  covered  only 
with  a very  fine  down  or  whitish  frizzled  hair,  which 
resembles  that  of  young  owls.  This  down  disfigures  the 
young  bird  so  much,  that  in  this  state  it  appears  almost  as 
large  as  an  adult. 

The  size  of  the  Condor  has  been  greatly  exaggerated.  It 


24 


THE  CONDOR. 


seldom  exceeds  three  feet  in  length  and  nine  and  a half 
feet  in  extent.*  The  tail  one  foot  two  inches.  The 
bill  is  straight  and  hooked  at  the  point ; the  plumage  is  white 
in  front,  everywhere  else  of  a brownish  gray ; head  bare  of 
feathers  and  covered  with  hard  wrinkled  skin,  scattered  over 
with  blackish  hairs,  and  it  has  a collar  of  white  silky  down 
between  the  bare  and  the  feathered  part  of  the  neck.  The 
feet  are  stout,  and  the  nails  long  and  crooked. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Sir  Francis  Head,  in  his  gallop  across  the  Pampas,  and 
his  visit  to  the  Andes,  frequently  encountered  Condors.  He 
relates  the  account  of  a struggle  between  one  of  his  Cornish 
miners  and  a Condor  gorged  with  food,  and  therefore  not  in 
the  best  state  for  a fray.  The  man  began  by  grasping  the 
bird  round  the  neck,  which  he  tried  to  break ; but  the  bird, 
roused  by  the  unceremonious  attack,  struggled  so  violently 
as  to  defeat  the  plan ; nor,  after  an  hour’s  struggling,  though 
the  miner  brought  away  several  of  the  wing-feathers  in 
token  of  victory,  does  it  appear  that  the  bird  was  des- 
patched. 

The  Condor  is  not  only  captured  with  the  lasso,  but  he  is 
taken  by  various  traps  and  stratagems.  According  to  Mr. 
Darwin,  the  Chilenos  are  in  the  habit  of  marking  the  trees 

* The  term  extent , applied  to  the  description  of  birds,  means  the 
distance  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  extended  wings. 


THE  TURKEY -BUZZARD. 


25 


in  which  they  roost,  frequently  to  the  number  of  five  or  six 
together,  and  then  at  night  climbing  up  and  noosing  them. 
They  are  such  heavy  sleepers  that  this  is  not  a difficult 
task.  Lieutenant  Maw  saw  the  Condor’s  quill  used  as  a 
pen  in  the  Cordillera. 


THE  TURKEY-BUZZARD.  (Jultur  aura.) 

There  are  many  species  of  Vultures  distributed  over  the 
various  parts  of  the  world,  chiefly  in  the  warmer  countries, 
where  they  are  considered  very  serviceable  in  consuming 
the  carcasses  of  dead  animals,  which  would  otherwise  taint 
the  air.  The  King  Vulture,  found  in  South  America  and 
Mexico,  and  the  California  Vulture,  found  on  our  western 
coast,  are  among  the  American  species;  but  of  these  the 
most  common,  and  therefore  the  most  interesting,  is  the 
Turkey-Buzzard,  which  abounds  in  our  Southern  States  and 
in  the  West  Indies,  where  they  are  commonly  protected  for 
their  services  as  scavengers  of  carrion.  In  the  winter  they 
generally  seek  out  warmth  and  shelter,  hovering  often  like 
grim  and  boding  spectres  in  the  suburbs,  and  on  the  roofs 
and  chimneys  of  the  houses  around  the  cities  of  the  South- 
ern States. 

Mr.  Nuttall  describes  the  Turkey-Buzzard  as  follows : 

The  Turkey  Vulture  is  about  two  and  a half  feet  in 

2 


26 


THE  WASHINGTON  EAGLE. 


length,  and  six  in  breadth.  Eyes  dark  or  reddish-hazel. 
The  head  and  neck  for  about  an  inch  and  a half  below  the 
ears,  furnished  with  a reddish  wrinkled  skin,  and  some 
tints  of  blue,  sprinkled  with,  short  black  hairs.  From  the 
hind-head  to  the  neck-feathers  the  space  is  covered  with  a 
black  down.  The  fore-part  of  the  neck  is  bare  to  the 
breast-bone.  The  plumage  of  the  neck  is  large  and  tumid, 
and,  with  that  of  the  back  and  shoulders,  nearly  black; 
almost  all  the  rest  of  the  body  is  of  the  same  colour,  in 
parts  inclining  to  brown.  Third  primary  longest.  The 
wings  extend  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  upper  plumage  is 
generally  glossed  with  green  and  bronze,  having  purplish 
reflections.  Legs  feathered  to  the  knees;  the  feet  some- 
what webbed.  The  bill  nearly  white,  often  tipped  with 
bright  olive  .green.  Weight  from  four  and  a half  to  five 
pounds. 


WASHINGTON  EAGLE.  (Falco  Washing tonii.) 

This  splendid  bird  is  found  in  the  mountain  regions  of 
Kentucky.  It  is  the  largest  of  all  the  Eagle  tribe.  Its 
length  is  three  feet  seven  inches ; extent  of  wings  ten  feet 
two  inches;  bill  three  inches  and  a quarter.  Length  of 
wing  when  folded  thirty-two  inches ; length  of  tail  fifteen 
inches ; middle  claw  four  inches  and  three-quarters ; hind 


THE  WASHINGTON  EAGLE. 


27 


claw  two  inches  and  a half.  The  upper  parts  of  the  body 
are  dark,  shining,  coppery-brown ; throat,  front,  and  breast, 
rich  bright  cinnamon  colour.  The  whole  appearance  of  the 
bird  grand  and  majestic. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Mr.  Nuttall  says,  u It  is  to  the  indefatigable  Audubon, 
that  we  owe  the  distinct  notice  and  description  of  this  noble 
Eagle,  which  first  drew  his  attention  while  voyaging  far  up 
the  Mississippi,  in  the  month  of  February,  1814.  At  length, 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  discovering  its  eyry  in  the  high 
cliffs  of  Green  River  in  Kentucky,  near  to  its  junction  with 
the  Ohio ; two  young  were  discovered  loudly  hissing  from  a 
fissure  in  the  rocks,  on  the  approach  of  the  male,  from  whom 
they  received  a fish.  The  female  now  also  came,  and  with 
solicitous  alarm  for  the  safety  of  her  young,  gave  a loud 
scream,  dropped  the  food  she  had  brought,  and  hovering 
over  the  molesting  party,  kept  up  a growling  and  threaten- 
ing cry  by  way  of  intimidation ; and,  in  fact,  as  our  disap- 
pointed naturalist  soon  discovered,  she  from  this  time 
forsook  the  spot,  and  found  means  to  convey  away  her 
young.  The  discoverer  considers  the  species  as  rare ; indeed, 
its  principal  residence  appears  to  be  in  the  northern  parts 
of  the  continent,  particularly  the  rocky  solitudes  around  the 
great  north-western  lakes,  where  it  can  at  all  times  collect 
its  finny  prey,  and  rear  its  young  without  the  dread  of  man. 
In  the  winter  season,  about  January  and  February,  as  well 


28 


THE  WASHINGTON  EAGLE. 


as  at  a later  period  of  the  spring,  these  birds  are  occasion- 
ally seen  in  this  vicinity,*  rendered  perhaps  bolder  and 
more  familiar  by  want,  as  the  prevalence  of  the  ice  and 
cold,  at  this  season,  drives  them  to  the  necessity  of  wander- 
ing further  than  usual  in  search  of  food.  At  this  early 
period,  Audubon  observed  indications  of  the  approach  of  the 
breeding  season.  They  are  sometimes  seen  contending  in 
the  air,  so  that  one  of  the  antagonists  will  suddenly  drop 
many  feet  downwards  as  if  wounded  or  alarmed.  My 
friend,  Dr.  Hayward  of  Boston,  had  in  his  possession  one 
of  these  fine  docile  Eagles  for  a considerable  time;  but 
desirous  of  devoting  it  to  the  then  Linnseum  Museum,  he 
attempted  to  poison  it,  by  corrosive  sublimate  of  mercury; 
several  times,  however,  doses  even  of  two  drams  were  given 
to  it  concealed  in  fish,  without  producing  any  injurious 
effect  on  its  health. 

“The  Washington  Eagle,  bold  and  vigorous,  disdains 
the  piratical  habits  of  the  Bald  Eagle,  and  invariably 
obtains  his  own  sustenance  without  molesting  the  osprey. 
The  circles  he  describes  in  his  flight  are  wider  than  those 
of  the  White-headed  Eagle ; he  also  flies  nearer  to  the  land 
or  the  surface  of  the  water ; and  when  about  to  dive  for  his 
prey,  he  descends  in  circuitous,  spiral  rounds,  as  if  to  check 
the  retreat  of  the  fish,  on  which  he  darts  only  when  within 
the  distance  of  a few  yards.  When  his  prey  is  obtained, 


* Cambridge,  Mass. 


THE  BALD  EAGLE.  29 

he  flies  out  at  a low  elevation  to  a considerable  distance  to 
enjoy  his  repast  at  leisure. 

“ The  quantity  of  food  consumed  by  this  enormous  bird 
is  very  great,  according  to  the  account  of  those  who  have 
had  them  in  confinement.  Mr.  Audubon's  male  bird 
weighed  fourteen  and  a half  pounds  avoirdupois.  One  in  a 
small  museum  in  Philadelphia  (according  to  the  account  of 
my  friend  Mr.  C.  Pickering),  also  a male,  weighed  much 
more,  by  which  difference  it  would  appear  that  they  are 
capable  of  becoming  exceedingly  fat ; for  the  length  of  this 
bird  was  about  the  same  as  that  of  Audubon,  three  feet  six 
or  seven  inches.  The  width,  however,  was  only  about  seven 
feet,  agreeing  pretty  nearly  with  a specimen  now  in  the 
New  England  Museum.  The  male  of  the  Golden  Eagle, 
the  largest  hitherto  known,  is  seldom  more  than  three  feet 
long." 


THE  WHITE-HEADED,  OP  BALD  EAGLE. 

(Halimtus  leucocephalus .) 

This  bird  is  about  three  feet  long,  and  seven  feet  broad 
from  tip  to  tip  of  the  wings.  The  bill  resembles  that  of 
the  golden  eagle,  and  from  the  chin  hang  some  small 
hairy  feathers  like  a beard.  As  it  is  found  alike  in  regions 
of  excessive  cold  and  in  the  torrid  zone,  it  is  provided  for 


30 


TIIE  BALD  EAGLE. 


enduring  rapid  changes  of  temperament,  and  its  whole  body 
is  clothed  under  the  feathers  with  a kind  of  down,  white 
and  soft  like  that  of  the  swan.  This  bird  builds  its  nest 
on  some  romantic  cliff  by  the  sea-shore,  or  on  the  bank  of 
some  river  or  lake,  and  feeds  almost  entirely  upon  fish. 

It  is  generally  regarded  by  our  countrymen  with  pecu- 
liar respect,  as  the  chosen  emblem  of  our  native  land. 
The  great  cataract  of  Niagara  is  mentioned  as  one  of  its 
favourite  places  of  resort,  not  merely  as  a fishing  station, 
where  it  is  enabled  to  satiate  its  hunger  upon  its  most  con- 
genial food,  but  also  in  consequence  of  the  vast  quantity  of 
four-footed  beasts,  which  unwarily  venturing  into  the  stream 
above,  are  borne  away  by  the  torrent,  and  precipitated  down 
those  tremendous  falls. 

High  o’er  the  watery  uproar  silent  seen, 

Sailing  sedate  in  majesty  serene, 

Now  ’midst  the  pillar’d  spray  sublimely  lost, 

And  now  emerging,  down  the  rapids  toss’d, 

Glides  the  Bald  Eagle,  gazing  calm  and  slow 
O’er  all  the  horrors  of  the  scene  below ; 

Intent  alone  to  sate  himself  with  blood, 

From  the  torn  victims  of  the  raging  flood. 

The  number  of  birds  of  prey  of  various  kinds,  which 
assemble  at  the  foot  of  the  rocks  to  glut  themselves  upon 
the  banquet  thus  provided  for  them,  is  said  to  be  incredibly 
great,  but  they  are  all  compelled  to  give  place  to  the  Eagle 
when  he  deigns  to  feed  on  dead  animals;  and  the  crow  and 


THE  FALCON. 


31 


the  vulture  submit  without  a struggle  to  the  exercise  of 
that  tyranny,  which  they  know  it  would  be  in  vain  to  resist. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

“We  have  ourselves,”  says  Wilson,  “seen  the  Bald 
Eagle,  while  seated  on  the  dead  carcass  of  a horse,  keep  a 
whole  flock  of  vultures  at  a respectful  distance,  until  he  had 
fully  sated  his  own  appetite  and  he  adds  another  instance, 
in  which  many  thousands  of  tree  squirrels  having  been 
drowned,  in  one  of  their  migrations,  in  attempting  to  pass 
the  Ohio,  and  having  furnished  for  some  length  of  time  a 
rich  banquet  to  the  vultures,  the  sudden  appearance  among 
them  of  the  Bald  Eagle  at  once  put  a stop  to  their  festivi- 
ties, and  drove  them  to  a distance  from  their  prey,  of 
which  the  Eagle  kept  sole  possession  for  several  successive 
days. 


THE  FALCON.  ( Falco  communis.') 

The  Falcon  is  a predaceous  bird,  of  which  there  are 
several  species.  The  Gerfalcon  is  the  largest,  and  it  is 
found  in  the  northern  parts  of  Europe ; and,  next  to  the 
eagle,  it  is  the  most  formidable,  the  most  active,  and  the 
most  intrepid  of  all  voracious  birds,  and  is  the  dearest  and 
most  esteemed  for  falconry.  The  bill  is  crooked  and  yel- 


32 


THE  FALCON. 


low ; the  irides  of  the  eye  dusky ; and  the  whole  plumage 
of  a whitish  hue,  marked  with  dark  lines  on  the  breast,  and 
dusky  spots  on  the  back. 

The  Peregrine  Falcon , which  is  the  most  common  kind, 
is  as  large  as  the  moor  buzzard.  The  bill  is  blue  at  the 
base,  and  black  at  the  point;  the  head,  back,  scapulars, 
and  coverts  of  the  wings  are  barred  with  deep  black  and 
blue;  the  throat,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  the  breast  are 
white,  tinged  with  yellow ; the  bottom  of  the  breast,  belly, 
and  thighs  are  of  a grayish  white ; and  the  tail  is  black 
and  blue. 

Wilson  enumerates  no  less  than  ten  varieties,  dependent 
chiefly  upon  age,  sex,  and  country.  It  is  found,  more  or 
less  abundantly,  throughout  the  whole  of  Europe,  princi- 
pally in  the  mountain  districts  in  North,  and  probably 
South  America,  and  in  New  Holland,  dwelling  in  the  clefts 
of  rocks,  especially  such  as  are  exposed  to  the  mid-day  sun. 
It  breeds  upon  the  cliffs  in  several  parts  of  England,  but 
appears  to  be  more  common  in  Scotland  and  Wales.  Its 
food  consists  principally  of  small  birds ; but  it  scruples  not 
to  attack  the  larger  species,  and  sometimes  gives  battle 
even  to  the  kite. 

Falcons  rarely  take  their  prey  upon  the  ground,  like  the 
more  ignoble  birds  of  the  class  to  which  they  belong ; but 
pounce  upon  it  from  aloft,  in  a directly  perpendicular 
descent  as  it  flies  through  the  air,  bear  it  downwards  by  the 
united  impulse  of  the  strength  and  rapidity  of  their  attack, 


THE  FALCON. 


33 


and  sticking  their  talons  into  its  flesh,  carry  it  off  in  tri- 
umph to  the  place  of  their  retreat.  Like  most  predatory 
animals,  they  are  stimulated  to  action  by  the  pressure  of 
hunger  alone,  and  remain  inactive  and  almost  motionless 
while  the  process  of  digestion  is  going  on,  and  until  the 
renewed  cravings  of  their  appetite  stimulate  them  to  fur- 
ther exertion. 

In  different  stages  of  its  growth,  the  Peregrine  Falcon 
has  been  known  by  various  English  names.  Its  proper 
appellation  among  falconers  is  the  Slight  Falcon,  the  term 
Falcon  G-entle  being  equally  applicable  to  all  the  species 
when  rendered  manageable.  In  the  immature  state,  this 
Falcon  ia  also  called  a Red  Hawk,  from  the  prevailing 
colour  of  its  plumage.  The  male  is  called  a Tiercel,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  the  female,  which,  in  the  Falcon  tribe,  is 
most  commonly  one-third  larger  than  the  male. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

In  China  there  is  said  to  be  a variety  which  is  mottled 
with  brown  and  yellow.  These  birds  are  said  to  be  used 
by  the  emperor  of  China  in  his  sporting  excursions,  when 
he  is  usually  attended  by  his  great  falconer,  and  a thousand 
of  inferior  rank.  Every  bird  has  a silver  plate  fastened  to 
its  foot,  with  the  nam£  of  the  falconer  who  has  the  charge 
of  it,  that,  in  case  it  should  be  lost,  it  may  be  restored  to 
the  proper  person ; but  if  it  should  not  be  found,  the  name 
is  delivered  to  another  officer,  called  the  guardian  of 


34 


THE  FALCON. 


lost  birds,  who,  to  make  his  situation  known,  erects  his 
standard  in  a conspicuous  place  among  the  army  of  hunters. 

In  Syria,  also,  there  is  a variety  of  the  Gentle  Falcon, 
which  the  inhabitants  call  Shaheen,  and  which  is  of  so 
fierce  and  courageous  a disposition,  that  it  will  attack  any 
bird,  however  large  or  powerful,  which  presents  itself. 
“Were  there  not,”  says  Dr.  Russel,  in  his  account  of 
Aleppo,  “ several  gentlemen  now  in  England  to  bear  'wit- 
ness  to  the  fact,  I should  hardly  venture  to  assert  that, 
with  this  bird,  which  is  about  the  size  of  a pigeon,  the 
inhabitants  sometimes  take  large  eagles. 

“ This  Hawk  was  in  former  times  taught  to  seize  the  eagle 
under  the  pinion,  and  thus  depriving  him  of  the  use  of  one 
wing,  both  birds  fell  to  the  ground  together ; but  the  pre- 
sent mode  is  to  teach  the  Hawk  to  fix  on  the  back,  between 
the  wings,  which  has  the  same  effect,  only  that  the  bird 
tumbling  down  more  slowly,  the  falconer  has  more  time  to 
come  to  his  Hawk's  assistance ; but  in  either  case,  if  he  be 
not  very  expeditious,  the  Falcon  is  inevitably  destroyed. 

“I  never  saw  the  Shaheen  fly  at  eagles,  that  sport  having 
been  disused  before  my  time ; but  I have  often  seen  him 
take  herons  and  storks.  The  Hawk,  when  thrown  off,  flies 
for  some  time  in  a horizontal  line,  not  six  feet  from  the 
ground;  then  mounting  perpendicularly,  with  astonishing 
swiftness,  he  seizes  his  prey  under  the  wing,  and  both  toge- 
ther come  tumbling  to  the  ground.” 


THE  OSPREY. 


35 


THE  OSPREY,  OR  FISHING  HAWK. 

(FalcOj  or  Pandion  Halisetus .) 

True  to  the  season,  o’er  our  sea-beat  shore, 

The  sailing  Osprey  high  is  seen  to  soar 
With  broad  unmoving  wing ; and  circling  slow, 

Marks  each  loose  straggler  in  the  deep  below ; 

Sweeps  down  like  lightning,  plunges  with  a roar, 

And  bears  his  struggling  victim  to  the  shore. 

This  bird  is  always  found  on  the  sea-shore,  or  near 
rivers  or  lakes,  as  it  feeds  entirely  on  fish.  It  is  common 
in  Great  Britain,  and  also  in  America,  where  large  colonies 
are  found  of  it,  the  birds  living  together  like  rooks.  “ When 
looking  out  for  its  prey,”  says  Hr.  Richardson,  “it  sails 
with  great  care  and  elegance,  in  undulating  and  curved 
lines”  at  a considerable  height  above  the  water,  till  it  per- 
ceives its  prey,  when  it  pounces  down  upon  it.  It  seizes 
the  fish  with  its  claws,  sometimes  scarcely  appearing  to  dip 
its  feet  in  the  water,  and  at  other  times  plunging  entirely 
under  the  surface  with  force  sufficient  to  throw  up  a con- 
siderable spray.  It  emerges  again,  however,  so  speedily,  as 
to  render  it  evident  that  it  does  not  attack  fish  swimming 
at  any  great  depth.” 

The  Osprey  builds  a large  nest  either  on  trees  or  rocks, 
and  lays  two  or  three  eggs,  which  have  a reddish  tinge,  and 
are  spotted  with  brown  at  the  larger  end.  The  old  birds 
feed  the  young  ones  even  after  they  have  left  the  nest,  and 
only  rear  one  brood  in  the  year. 


36 


THE  GOSHAWK. 


AMEKICAN  GOSHAWK. — (Astur  atricapillus .) 

After  the  eagles  and  falcons,  come  the  Hawks,  which  are 
similar  in  appearance,  but  smaller.  They,  as  well  as  some 
of  the  falcons,  are  famous  for  having  been  trained  to  use  in 
the  chase.  In  the  feudal  times  hawking  was  the  favourite 
amusement  of  kings  and  nobles.  We  have  never  heard  of 
its  being  practised  in  our  country,  although  it  is  still  com- 
mon in  Persia,  and  sometimes,  though  rarely,  there  are 
hawking  parties  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 

The  American  Goshawk  is  twenty-one  inches  long ; extent 
of  wings  thirty-seven  inches.  Its  colour  is  dark  ash,  tinged 
with  brown.  Our  species  is  related  to  a European  one, 
which  extends  over  the  northern  countries  of  the  Old  World. 
It  is  rare,  migrating  to  the  south  in  winter. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

In  Mr.  NuttalFs  Ornithology  we  find  the  following  inte- 
resting particulars  concerning  this  bird : 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1880,  I received  one  of  these 
birds  from  the  proprietor  of  Fresh  Pond  Hotel,  in  the 
moult,  having  the  stomach  crammed  with  moles  and  mice, 
and  it  was  shot  in  the  act  of  devouring  a pigeon. 

The  Goshawk  was  held  in  considerable  esteem  for  fal- 
conry, and,  according  to  Bell,  was  employed  for  this  amuse- 
ment by  the  emperor  of  China,  who  moved  sometimes  to 
these  excursions  in  great  state,  often  bearing  a hawk  on  his 


THE  GOSHAWK. 


37 


hand,  to  let  fly  at  any  game  that  might  he  raised ; which 
was  usually  pheasants,  partridges,  quails,  or  cranes.  In 
1269,  Marco  Paulo  witnessed  this  diversion  of  the  emperor, 
which  probably  had  existed  for  many  ages  previous.  The 
falconers  distinguished  these  birds  of  sport  into  two  classes, 
namely,  those  of  falconry  properly  so  called,  and  those  of 
hawking  ; and  in  this  second  and  inferior  class  were  included 
the  Groshawk,  the  Sparrow-hawk,  Buzzard,  and  Harpy. 
This  species  does  not  soar  so  high  as  the  longer-winged 
Hawks,  and  darts  upon  its  quarry  by  a side  glance,  not  by 
a direct  descent,  like  the  true  falcon.  They  were  caught 
in  nets  baited  with  live  pigeons,  and  reduced  to  obedience 
by  the  same  system  of  privation  and  discipline  as  the  falcon. 

A pair  of  these  birds  were  kept  for  a long  time  in  a cage 
by  Buffon ; he  remarks,  that  the  female  was  at  least  a third 
larger  than  the  male,  and  the  wings,  when  closed,  did  not 
reach  within  six  inches  of  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  male, 
though  smaller,  was  much  more  fierce  and  un tameable.  They 
often  fought  with  their  claws,  but  seldom  used  the  bill  for 
any  other  purpose  than  tearing  their  food.  If  this  consisted 
of  birds,  they  were  plucked  as  neatly  as  by  the  hand  of  the 
poulterer ; but  mice  were  swallowed  whole,  and  the  hair  and 
skin,  and  other  indigestible  parts,  after  the  manner  of  the 
genus,  were  discharged  from  the  mouth  rolled  up  in  little 
balls.  Its  cry  was  raucous,  and  terminated  by  sharp,  reite- 
rated, piercing  notes,  the  more  disagreeable  the  oftener  they 
were  repeated,  and  the  cage  could  never  be  approached  with- 


38 


THE  HAWK  OWL. 


out  exciting  violent  gestures  and  screams.  Though  of  dif- 
ferent sexes,  and  confined  to  the  same  cage,  they  contracted 
no  friendship  for  each  other  which  might  soothe  their  impri- 
sonment, and  finally,  to  end  the  dismal  picture,  the  female, 
in  a fit  of  indiscriminate  rage  and  violence,  murdered  her 
mate  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  when  all  the  other  feathered 
race  were  wrapped  in  repose.  Indeed  their  dispositions  are 
so  furious,  that  a Goshawk,  left  with  any  other  falcons, 
soon  effects  the  destruction  of  the  whole.  Their  ordinary 
food  is  young  rabbits,  squirrels,  mice,  moles,  young  geese, 
pigeons,  and  small  birds,  and,  with  a cannibal  appetite,  they 
sometimes  even  prey  upon  the  young  of  their  own  species. 
They  construct  their  nests  in  the  highest  trees,  and  lay  from 
two  to  four  eggs  of  a bluish-white,  marked  with  lines  and 
spots  of  brown.  The  egg  of  our  bird,  according  to  Audu- 
bon, is  without  spots. 


% 

THE  HAWK  OWL. — (Strix  funerea.) 

This  remarkable  species,  says  Mr.  Nuttall,  forming  a con- 
necting link  with  the  preceding  genus  of  the  Hawks,  is 
nearly  confined  to  the  arctic  wilds  of  both  continents,  being 
frequent  in  Siberia  and  the  fur  countries  from  Hudson’s 
Bay  to  the  Pacific.  A few  stragglers,  now  and  then,  at  dis- 
tant intervals,  and  in  the  depths  of  winter,  penetrate  on  the 


...  .'V- 


THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


39 


one  side  into  the  northern  parts  of  the  United  States;  and, 
on  the  other,  they  occasionally  appear  in  Germany,  and  more 
rarely  in  France.  At  Hudson's  Bay  they  are  observed  by 
day  flying  high,  and  preying  on  the  white  grouse  and  other 
birds,  sometimes  even  attending  the  hunter  like  a falcon, 
and  boldly  taking  up  the  wounded  game  as  it  flutters  on  the 
ground.  They  are  also  said  to  feed  on  mice  and  insects, 
and  (according  to  Meyer)  they  nest  upon  trees,  laying  two 
white  eggs.  They  are  said  to  be  constant  attendants  on  the 
ptarmigans  in  their  spring  migrations  towards  the  north; 
and  are  observed  to  hover  round  the  camp-fires  of  the  na- 
tives, in  quest  probably  of  any  offal  or  rejected  game. 


GREAT  HORNED  OWL. — (Bubo  Virginiana .) 

This  noted  and  formidable  Owl  is  found  in  almost  every 
quarter  of  the  United  States.  His  favourite  residence,  how- 
ever, is  in  the  dark  solitudes  of  deep  swamps,  covered  with 
a growth  of  gigantic  timber ; and  here,  as  soon  as  evening 
draws  on,  and  mankind  retire  to  rest,  he  sends  forth  such 
sounds  as  seem  scarcely  to  belong  to  this  world,  startling 
the  solitary  pilgrim  as  he  slumbers  by  his  forest  fire, 

Making  night  hideous. 

Along  the  mountainous  shores  of  the  Ohio,  and  amidst  the 


40 


THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL 


deep  forests  of  Indiana,  alone,  and  reposing  in  the  woods, 
this  ghostly  watchman  has  frequently  warned  the  traveller  of 
the  approach  of  morning,  and  amused  him  with  his  singular 
exclamations,  sometimes  sweeping  down  and  around  the  fire, 
uttering  a loud  and  sudden  Waugh  0 ! Waugh  0 ! sufficient 
to  have  alarmed  a whole  garrison.  He  has  other  nocturnal 
solos,  no  less  Melodious,  one  of  which  very  strikingly  resem- 
bles the  half-suppressed  screams  of  a person  suffocating,  or 
throttled,  and  cannot  fail  of  being  exceedingly  entertaining 
to  a lonely,  benighted  traveller,  in  the  midst  of  an  Indian 
wilderness ! 

This  species  inhabits  the  country  round  Hudson's  Bay ; 
and  according  to  Pennant,  who  considers  it  a mere  variety 
of  the  Eagle  Owl  ( Strix  bubo ) of  Europe,  is  found  in  Kamt- 
schatka;  extends  even  to  the  arctic  regions,  where  it  is 
often  found  white ; and  occurs  as  low  as  Astrakan.  It  has 
also  been  seen  white  in  the  United  States;  but  this  has 
doubtless  been  owing  to  disease  or  natural  defect,  and  not 
to  climate. 

It  preys  on  young  rabbits,  squirrels,  rats,  mice,  partridges, 
and  small  birds  of  various  kinds. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl  is  famous  for  his  depredations  on 
the  poultry-yard.  A very  large  one,  who  had  his  wing 
broken  by  a shot  while  on  a foraging  expedition  of  this 


THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL.  41 

kind  about  a farm-house,  was  captured  and  kept  for  several 
days,  and  at  length  disappeared,  no  one  knew  whither. 

Almost  every  day  after  this,  hens  and  chickens  also  dis- 
appeared, one  by  one,  in  an  unaccountable  manner,  till  in 
eight  or  ten  days  very  few  were  left  remaining.  The  fox, 
the  minx,  and  weasel,  were  alternately  the  reputed  authors 
of  this  mischief,  until  one  morning,  the  olcMfedy  herself, 
rising  before  day  to  bake,  in  passing  towards  the  oven, 
surprised  her  late  prisoner,  the  Owl,  regaling  himself  on 
the  body  of  a newly  killed  hen  ! The  thief  instantly  made 
for  his  hole  under  the  house,  from  whence  the  enraged 
matron  soon  dislodged  him  with  the  brush-handle,  and 
without  mercy  despatched  him.  In  this  snug  retreat  were 
found  the  greater  part  of  the  feathers,  and  many  large  frag- 
ments, of  her  whole  family  of  chickens. 

There  is  something  in  the  character  of  the  Owl  so  recluse, 
solitary,  and  mysterious,  something  so  discordant  in  the 
tones  of  its  voice,  heard  only  amid  the  silence  and  gloom 
of  night,  and  in  the  most  lonely  and  sequestered  situations, 
as  to  have  strongly  impressed  the  minds  of  mankind  in 
general  with  sensations  of  awe  and  abhorrence  of  the  whole 
tribe.  The  poets  have  indulged  freely  in  this  general 
prejudice;  and  in  their  descriptions  and  delineations  of 
midnight  storms,  and  gloomy  scenes  of  nature,  the  Owl 
is  generally  introduced  to  heighten  the  horror  of  the  pic- 
ture. 

■ Ignorance  and  superstition,  in  all  ages,  and  in  all  countries, 

3 


42 


THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


listen  to  the  voiee  of  the  Owl,  and  even  contemplate  its 
physiognomy  with  feelings  of  disgust,  and  a kind  of  fearful 
awe.  The  priests,  or  conjurers,  among  some  of  our  Indian 
nations,  have  taken  advantage  of  the  reverential  horror  for 
this  bird,  and  have  adopted  the  Great  Horned  Oivly  the 
subject  of  the  present  account,  as  the  symbol  or  emblem  of 
their  office.«fc 

u Among  the  Creeks,”  says  Mr.  Bartram,  in  his  Travels , 
p.  504,  “ the  junior  priests,  or  students,  constantly  wear  a 
white  mantle,  and  have  a Great  Owl  skin  cased  and  stuffed 
very  ingeniously,  so  well  executed  as  almost  to  appear  like 
the  living  bird,  having  large,  sparkling  glass  beads  or 
buttons,  fixed  in  the  head  for  eyes.  This  insignia  of  wis- 
dom and  divination  they  wear  sometimes  as  a crest  on  the 
top  of  the  head ; at  other  times  the  image  sits  on  the  arm, 
or  is  borne  on  the  hand.  These  bachelors  are  also  distin- 
guished from  the  other  people  by  their  taciturnity,  grave 
and  solemn  countenance,  dignified  step,  and  singing  to 
themselves  songs  or  hymns  in  a low,  sweet  voice,  as  they 
stroll  about  the  town.” 

Nothing  is  a more  effectual  cure  for  superstition  than  a 
knowledge  of  the  general  laws  and  productions  of  nature ; 
nor  more  forcibly  leads  our  reflections  to  the  first,  great, 
self-existent  Cause  of  all,  to  whom  our  reverential  awe  is 
then  humbly  devoted,  and  not  to  any  of  his  dependent 
creatures.  With  all  the  gloomy  habits  and  ungracious 
tones  of  the  Owl,  there  is  nothing  in  this  bird  supernatural 


THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


43 


or  mysterious,  or  more  than  that  of  a simple  bird  of  prey, 
formed  for  feeding  by  night,  like  many  other  animals,  and  of 
reposing  by  day.  The  harshness  of  its  voice,  occasioned  by 
the  width  and  capacity  of  its  throat,  may  be  intended  by 
Heaven  as  an  alarm  and  warning  to  the  birds  and  animals 
on  which  it  preys,  to  secure  themselves  from  danger.  The 
voices  of  all  carnivorous  birds  and  animals  are  also  observed 
to  be  harsh  and  hideous,  probably  for  this  very  purpose. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl  is  not  migratory,  but  remains 
with  us  the  whole  year.  During  the  day  he  slumbers  in 
the  thick  evergreens  of  deep  swamps,  or  seeks  shelter  in 
large  hollow  trees.  He  is  very  rarely  seen  abroad  by  day, 
and  never  but  when  disturbed.  In  the  month  of  May  they 
usually  begin  to  build.  The  nest  is  generally  placed  in  the 
fork  of  a tall  tree,  and  is  constructed  of  sticks  piled  in  con- 
siderable quantities,  lined  with  dry  leaves  and  a few  feathers. 
Sometimes  they  choose  a hollow  tree ; and,  in  that  case, 
carry  in  but  few  materials.  The  female  lays  four  eggs, 
nearly  as  large  as  those  of  a hen^  almost  globular,  and  of 
a pure  white.  In  one  of  these  nests,  after  the  young  had 
flown,  were  found  the  heads  and  bones  of' two  chickens,  the 
legs  and  head  of  the  golden-winged  woodpecker,  and  part 
of  the  wings  and  feathers  of  several  other  birds.  It  is 
generally  conjectured  that  they  hatch  but  once  in  the 
season. 

According  to  all  authorities,  Owls  have  been  regarded  as 
objects  of  superstition  ; and  this  has  sometimes  been  taken 


44 


THE  GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


advantage  of  by  the  well  informed,  for  purposes  far  from 
what  ought  to  be  the  duty  of  a better  education  to  inculcate. 
None  are  more  accessible  to  such  superstitions  than  the 
primitive  natives  of  Ireland,  and  the  north  of  Scotland.  Dr. 
Richardson  thus  relates  an  instance,  which  came  to  his  own 
knowledge,  of  the  consequences  arising  from  a visit  of  this 
nocturnal  wanderer : — 

u A party  of  Scottish  Highlanders,  in  the  service  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  happened,  in  a winter  journey,  to 
encamp  after  nightfall  in  a dense  clump  of  trees,  whose  dark 
tops  and  lofty  stems,  the  growth  of  more  than  one  century, 
gave  a solemnity  to  the  scene  that  strongly  tended  to  excite 
the  superstitious  feelings  of  the  Highlanders.  The  effect  was 
heightened  by  the  discovery  of  a tomb,  which,  with  a natural 
taste  often  exhibited  by  the  Indians,  had  been  placed  in  this 
secluded  spot.  Our  travellers,  having  finished  their  supper, 
were  trimming  their  fire  preparatory  to  retiring  to  rest,  when 
the  slow  and  dismal  notes  of  the  Horned  Owl  fell  on  the  ear 
with  a startling  nearness.  None  of  them  being  acquainted 
with  the  sound,  they  at  once  concluded,  that  so  unearthly 
a voice  must  be  the  moaning  of  the  spirit  of  the  departed, 
whose  repose  they  supposed  they  had  disturbed,  by  inad- 
vertently making  a fire  of  some  of  the  wood  of  which  his 
tomb  had  been  constructed.  They  passed  a tedious  night 
of  fear,  and,  with  the  first  dawn  of  day,  hastily  quitted  the 
ill-omened  spot." 


THE  SWALLOW. 


45 


THE  SWALLOW.  ( Hirundo  rustica .) 

The  second  order  of  birds,  Insessores , or  Perching  Birds, 
includes  an  immense  number  of  genera  and  species.  We 
shall  notice  the  more  interesting,  without  troubling  our 
readers  with  their  numerous  subdivisions.  We  commence 
with  the  Swallow,  as  one  of  the  most  common. 

Swallows  are  easily  distinguished  from  all  other  birds, 
not  only  by  their  general  structure,  but  by  their  twittering 
note  and  mode  of  flying,  or  rather  darting  from  place  to 
place. 

They  appear  in  the  temperate  regions  in  April,  and  build- 
ing in  some  out-house,  or  in  part  of  a human  dwelling,  they 
lay  their  eggs  and  hatch  their  young.  About  August 
they  disappear,  and  do  not  return  till  the  following  spring. 
Swallows  kept  in  a cage  moult  about  Christmas,  and  seldom 
live  till  spring. 

There  are  several  species  of  the  Swallow : the  general 
characters,  a small  beak,  but  large  wide  mouth,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  swallowing  flying  insects,  their  natural  food ; and 
long  forked  tail  and  extensive  wings,  to  enable  them  to 
pursue  their  prey,  belong  to  all  of  them.  The  common 
house  Swallow  builds  under  the  eaves  of  houses,  or  in 
chimneys,  near  their  top  : the  Martin  also  builds  under 
eaves,  and  very  commonly  against  the  upper  corner  or  side 
of  our  very  windows,  and  seems  not  afraid  at  the  sight  of 
man,  yet  it  cannot  be  tamed,  or  even  kept  long  in  a cage. 


46 


THE  SWALLOW. 


The  nature  of  the  Swallow’s  nest  is  worthy  our  serious 
observation : how  the  mud  is  extracted  from  the  sea-shores, 
rivers,  or  other  watery  places;  how  masoned  and  formed 
into  a solid  building,  strong  enough  to  support  a whole 
family,  and  to  face  the  u pelting  storm,”  are  wonders  which 
ought  to  raise  our  mind  to  Him  who  bestowed  that  instinct 
upon  them. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTE. 

It  is  related  that  a pair  of  Swallows  built  their  nest  for 
two  successive  years  on  the  handle  of  a pair  of  garden 
shears,  that  were  stuck  up  against  the  boards  in  an  out- 
house; and,  therefore,  must  have  had  their  nest  spoiled 
whenever  the  implement  was  wanted.  And  what  is  still 
more  strange,  a bird  of  the  same  species  built  its  nest  on 
the  wings  and  body  of  an  owl  that  happened  to  hang  dead 
and  dry  from  the  rafters  of  a barn,  and  so  loose  as  to  be 
moved  by  every  gust  of  wind.  This  owl,  with  the  nest  on 
its  wings,  and  with  eggs  in  the  nest,  was  taken  to  the 
museum  of  Sir  Ashton  Lever  as  a curiosity.  That  gentle- 
man, struck  with  the  singularity  of  the  sight,  furnished  the 
person  who  brought  it  with  a large  shell,  desiring  him  to 
fix  it  just  where  the  owl  had  hung.  The  man  did  so;  and 
in  the  following  year  a pair  of  Swallows,  probably  the  same, 
built  their  nest  in  the  shell,  and  laid  eggs. 


THE  BANK  SWALLOW. 


47 


THE  CHIMNEY  SWALLOW. 

The  Chimney  Swallow  is  on  the  head;  neck,  back,  and 
rump,  of  a shining  black  colour,  with  purple  gloss  and 
sometimes  with  a blue  shade ; the  throat  and  neck  are  of 
the  same  colour;  the  breast  and  belly  are  white,  with  a 
dash  of  red.  The  tail  is  forked,  and  consists  of  twelve 
feathers.  The  wings  are  of  the  same  colour  with  the  back. 
Swallows  feed  upon  flies,  worms,  and  insects;  and  gene- 
rally hunt  their  prey  on  the  wing. 


THE  BANK  SWALLOW. 

This  appears  (says  Mr.  Wilson)  to  be  the  most  sociable 
with  its  kind,  and  the  least  intimate  with  man,  of  all  our 
Swallows;  living  together  in  large  communities  of  some- 
times three  or  four  hundred.  On  the  high  sandy  bank  of 
a river,  quarry,  or  gravel-pit,  at  a foot  or  two  from  the  sur- 
face, they  commonly  scratch  out  holes  for  their  nests, 
running  them  in  a horizontal  direction  to  the  depth  of  two 
and  sometimes  three  feet.  Several  of  these  holes  are  often 
within  a few  inches  of  each  other,  and  extend  in  various 
strata  along  the  front  of  the  precipice,  sometimes  for  eighty 
or  one  hundred  yards.  At  the  extremity  of  this  hole,  a 


48 


THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 


little  fine,  dry  grass,  with  a few  large,  downy  feathers,  form 
the  bed  on  which  their  eggs,  generally  five  in  number,  and 
pure  white,  are  deposited. 

The  young  are  hatched  late  in  May;  and  here  I have 
taken  notice  of  the  common  crow,  in  parties  of  four  or 
live,  watching  at  the  entrance  of  these  holes,  to  seize  the 
first  straggling  young  that  should  make  its  appearance. 
From  the  clouds  of  Swallows  that  usually  play  round  these 
breeding-places,  they  remind  one  at  a distance  of  a swarm 
of  bees. 

The  Bank  Swallow  arrives  here  earlier  than  either  of  the 
preceding ; begins  to  build  in  April,  and  has  commonly  two 
broods  in  the  season.  Their  voice  is  a low  mutter.  They 
are  particularly  fond  of  the  shores  of  rivers,  and,  in  several 
places  along  the  Ohio,  they  congregate  in  immense  multi- 
tudes. 


BALTIMOBE  OKIOLE.  ( Oriolus  Baltimore .) 

This  is  a bird  of  passage,  arriving  in  Pennsylvania,  from 
the  south,  about  the  beginning  of  May,  and  departing 
towards  the  latter  end  of  August,  or  beginning  of  September. 
During  migration,  the  flight  of  the  Baltimore  is  high  above 
all  the  trees,  and  is  straight  and  continuous ; it  is  mostly 
performed  during  the  day,  as  they  are  usually  observed 
alighting,  always  singly,  about  the  setting  of  the  sun,  utter- 


THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE.  49 

ing  a note  or  two,  and  darting  into  the  lower  branches  to 
feed,  and  afterwards  to  rest. 

From  the  singularity  of  its  colours,  the  construction  of 
its  nest,  and  its  preferring  the  apple-trees,  weeping  willows, 
walnut  and  tulip-trees,  adjoining  the  farm-house,  to  build 
on,  it  is  generally  known,  and,  as  usual,  honoured  with  a 
variety  of  names,  such  as  Hang-nest,  Hanging-Bird,  Golden 
Bobin,  Fire-Bird  (from  the  bright  orange  seen  through  the 
green  leaves,  resembling  a flash  of  fire),  &c.,  but  more 
generally  the  Baltimore  Bird,  so  named,  as  Catesby  informs 
us,  from  its  colours,  which  are  black  and  orange,  being 
those  of' the  arms  or  livery  of  Lord  Baltimore,  formerly 
proprietary  of  Maryland. 

Their  principal  food  consists  of  caterpillars,  beetles,  and 
bugs,  particularly  one  of  a brilliant  glossy  green,  fragments 
of  which  are  almost  always  found  in  their  stomach,  and 
sometimes  these  only. 

The  Baltimore  inhabits  North  America  from  Canada  to 
Mexico,  and  is  even  found  as  far  south  as  Brazil. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

There  is  nothing  more  remarkable  (says  Mr.  Nuttall)  in 
the  whole  instinct  of  our  Golden  Bobin,  than  the  ingenuity 
displayed  in  the  fabrication  of  its  nest,  which  is,  in  fact,  a 
pendulous  cylindric  pouch  of  five  to  seven  inches  in  depth, 
usually  suspended  from  near  the  extremities  of  the  high, 


50 


THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 


drooping  branches  of  trees  (such  as  the  elm,  the  pear,  or 
apple-tree,  wild  cherry,  weeping  willow,  tulip-tree,  or  but- 
tonwood). It  is  begun  by  firmly  fastening  natural  strings 
of  the  flax  of  the  silk  weed,  or  swamp-hollyhock,  or  stout 
artificial  threads,  round  two  or  more  forked  twigs,  corres- 
ponding to  the  intended  width  and  depth  of  the  nest.  With 
the  same  materials,  willow  down,  or  any  accidental  ravel- 
lings,  strings,  thread,  sewing-silk,  tow,  or  wool,  that  may  be 
lying  near  the  neighbouring  houses,  or  round  the  grafts  of 
trees,  they  interweave  and  fabricate  a sort  of  coarse  cloth 
into  the  form  intended ; towards  the  bottom  of  which  they 
place  the  real  nest,  made,  chiefly  of  lint,  wiry  grass,  horse 
and  cow  hair,  sometimes,  in  defect  of  hair,  lining  the  inte- 
rior with  a mixture  of  slender  strips  of  smooth  vine  bark, 
and  rarely  with  a few  feathers,  the  whole  being  of  a consi- 
derable thickness,  and  more  or  less  attached  to  the  external 
pouch.  Over  the  top,  the  leaves,  as  they  grow  out,  form  a 
verdant  and  agreeable  canopy,  defending  the  young  from  the 
sun  and  rain.  There  is  sometimes  a considerable  difference 
in  the  manufacture  of  these  nests,  as  well  as  in  the  materials 
which  enter  into  their  composition.  Both  sexes  seem  to  be 
equally  adepts  at  this  sort  of  labour,  and  I have  seen  the 
female  alone  perform  the  whole  without  any  assistance,  and 
the  male  also  complete  this  laborious  task  nearly  without 
the  aid  of  his  consort;  who,  however,  in  general,  is  the 
principal  worker.  I have  observed  a nest  made  almost 
wholly  of  tow,  which  was  laid  out  for  the  convenience  of  a 


THE  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 


51 


male  bird ; who,  with  this  aid,  completed  his  labour  in  a very 
short  time,  and  frequently  sung  in  a very  ludicrous  manner, 
while  his  mouth  was  loaded  with  a mass  larger  than  his 
head.  So  eager  are  they  to  obtain  fibrous  materials,  that 
they  will  readily  tug  at,  and  even  untie  hard  knots  made  of 
tow.  In  Audubon's  magnificent  plates,  a nest  is  represented 
as  formed  outwardly  of  the  long-moss ; where  this  abounds, 
of  course,  the  labour  of  obtaining  materials  must  be  greatly 
abridged.  The  author  likewise  remarks,  that  the  whole 
fabric  consists  almost  entirely  of  this  material,  loosely  inter- 
woven, without  any  warm  lining,  a labour  which  our  inge- 
nious artist  seems  aware  would  be  superfluous  in  the  warm 
forests  of  the  lower  Mississippi.  A female,  which  I observed 
'attentively,  carried  off  to  her  nest  a piece  of  lamp-wick  ten 
or  twelve  feet  long.  This  long  string,  and  many  other 
shorter  ones,  were  left  hanging  out  for  about  a week  before 
both  the  ends  were  wattled  into  the  sides  of  the  nest.  Some 
other  little  birds,  making  use  of  similar  materials,  at  times 
twitched  these  flowing  ends,  and  generally  brought  out  the 
busy  Baltimore  from  her  occupation  in  great  anger. 

The  haste  and  eagerness  of  one  of  these  airy  architects, 
which  I accidentally  observed  on  the  banks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, appeared  likely  to  prove  fatal  to  a busy  female,  who, 
in  weaving,  got  a loop  round  her  neck,  and  no  sooner  was 
she  disengaged  from  this  snare,  than  it  was  slipped  round 
her  feet,  and  thus  held  her  fast  beyond  the  power  of  escape ! 
The  male  came  frequently  to  the  scene,  now  changed  from 


52 


THE  ROBIN. 


that  of  joy  and  hope  into  despair,  but  seemed  wholly  inca- 
pable of  comprehending  or  relieving  the  distress  of  his  mate. 
In  a second  instance,  I have  been  told  that  a female  has 
been  observed  dead  in  the  like  predicament. 


THE  ROBIN.  ( Turdus  migratorius.') 

This  well-known  bird,  being  familiar  to  almost  every- 
body, will  require  but  a short  description.  It  measures 
nine  inches  and  a half  in  length ; the  bill  is  strong,  an  inch 
long,  and  of  a full  yellow,  though  sometimes  black,  or 
dusky  near  the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible ; the  head,  back 
of  the  neck,  and  tail,  is  black ; the  back  and  rump,  an  ash 
colour;  the  wings  are  black,  edged  with  light  ash;  the 
inner  tips  of  the  two  exterior  tail-feathers  are  white ; three 
small  spots  of  white  border  the  eye ; the  throat  and  upper 
part  of  the  breast  is  black,  the  former  streaked  with  white; 
the  whole  of  the  rest  of  the  breast,  down  as  far  as  the 
thighs,  is  of  a dark  orange ; belly  and  vent,  white,  slightly 
waved  with  dusky  ash ; legs,  dark  brown ; claws,  black  and 
strong.  The  colours  of  the  female  are  more  of  the  light 
ash,  less  deepened  with  black ; and  the  orange  on  the  breast 
is  much  paler,  and  more  broadly  skirted  with  white. 

The  name  of  this  bird  bespeaks  him  a bird  of  passage,  as 


THE  ROBIN. 


53 


are  all  the  different  species  of  thrushes  we  have ; hut  the 
one  we  are  now  describing,  being  more  unsettled,  and  con- 
tinually roving  about  from  one  region  to  another,  during 
fall  and  winter,  seems  particularly  entitled  to  the  appella- 
tion. Scarce  a winter  passes  but  innumerable  thousands  of 
them  are  seen  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  whole  Atlantic 
states,  from  New  Hampshire  to  Carolina,  particularly  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  our  towns;  and,  from  the  circum- 
stance of  their  leaving,  during  that  season,  the  country  to 
the  north-west  of  the  great  range  of  the  Alleghany,  from 
Maryland  northward,  it  would  appear  that  they  not  only 
migrate  from  north  to  south,  but  from  west  to  east,  to  avoid 
the  deep  snows  that  generally  prevail  on  these  high  regions 
for  at  least  four  months  in  the  year. 

The  Robin  builds  a large  nest,  often  on  an  apple-tree, 
plasters  it  in  the  inside  with  mud,  and  lines  it  with  hay  or 
fine  grass.  The  female  lays  five  eggs,  of  a beautiful  sea- 
green.  Their  principal  food  is  berries,  worms,  and  cater- 
pillars. Of  the  first  he  prefers  those  of  the  sour  gum. 
So  fond  are  they  of  gum-berries,  that,  wherever  there 
is  one  of  these  trees  covered  with  fruit,  and  flocks  of 
Robins  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  sportsman  need  only 
take  his  stand  near  it,  load,  take  aim,  and  fire ; one  flock 
succeeding  another,  with  little  interruption,  almost  the 
whole  day : by  this  method,  prodigious  slaughter  has  been 
made  among  them  with  little  fatigue.  When  berries  fail, 
they  disperse  themselves  over  the  fields,  and  along  the 


54 


THE  ROBIN. 


fences,  in  search  of  worms  and  other  insects.  Sometimes 
they  will  disappear  for  a week  or  two,  and  return  again  in 
greater  numbers  than  before ; at  which  time  the  cities  pour 
out  their  sportsmen  by  scores,  and  the  markets  are  plenti- 
fully supplied  with  them  at  a cheap  rate. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

In  January,  1807,  two  young  men,  in  one  excursion,  shot 
thirty  dozen  Robins.  In  the  midst  of  such  devastation, 
which  continued  many  weeks,  and,  by  accounts,  extended 
from  Massachusetts  to  Maryland,  some  humane  person  took 
advantage  of  a circumstance  common  to  these  birds  in 
winter,  to  stop  the  general  slaughter.  The  fruit  called 
poke-berries  is  a favourite  repast  with  the  Robin,  after 
they  are  mellowed  by  the  frost.  The  juice  of  the  berries 
is  of  a beautiful  crimson,  and  they  are  eaten  in  such  quanti- 
ties by  these  birds,  that  their  whole  stomachs  are  strongly 
tinged  with  the  same  red  colour. 

A paragraph  appeared  in  the  public  news  papers,  inti- 
mating, that,  from  the  great  quantities  of  these  berries 
which  the  Robins  had  fed  on,  they  had  become  unwhole- 
some, and  even  dangerous  food ; and  that  several  persons 
had  suffered  by  eating  of  them.  The  strange  appearance  of 
the  bowels  of  the  birds  seemed  to  corroborate  this  account. 
The  demand  for,  and  use  of  them,  ceased  almost  instantly ; 


THE  NIGHTINGALE. 


55 


and  motives  of  self-preservation  produced  at  once  what  all 
the  pleadings  of  humanity  could  not  effect. 

When  fat,  they  are  in  considerable  esteem  for  the  table, 
and  probably  not  inferior  to  the  Turdi  of  the  ancients, 
which  they  bestowed  so  much  pains  on  in  feeding  and  fat- 
tening. The  young  birds  are  frequently  and  easily  raised, 
bear  the  confinement  of  the  cage,  feed  on  bread,  fruits,  &c., 
sing  well,  readily  learn  to  imitate  parts  of  tunes,  and  are 
very  pleasant  and  cheerful  domestics.  In  these  I have 
always  observed  (says  Wilson)  that  the  orange  on  the  breast 
is  of  a much  deeper  tint,  often  a dark  mahogany  or  chestnut 
colour  owing,  no  doubt,  to  their  food  and  confinement. 


THE  NIGHTINGALE.  {Sylvia  luscinia .) 

All  the  birds  we  have  hitherto  described  are  American. 
We  now  come  to  a bird  of  the  Old  World,  celebrated  by  the 
poets  of  all  ages.  It  is  thus  described  by  an  English 
writer : — 

The  Nightingale  has  little  to  boast,  if  we  consider  its 
plumage,  which  is  of  a pale  tawny  colour  on  the  head  and 
back,  dashed  with  a little  shade  of  olive ; the  breast  and 
upper  part  of  the  belly  incline  to  a grayish  tint,  and  the 
lower  part  of  the  belly  is  almost  white ; the  exterior  web 


56 


THE  NIGHTINGALE. 


of  the  quill-feathers  is  of  a reddish  brown ; the  tail  of  a 
dull  red ; the  legs  and  feet  ash-coloured ; the  irides  hazel ; 
and  the  eyes  large,  bright,  and  staring.  It  is  hardly  pos- 
sible to  give  an  idea  of  the  extraordinary  power  which  this 
small  bird  possesses  in  its  throat,  as  to  extension  of  sound, 
sweetness  of  tone,  and  versatility  of  notes.  Its  song  is 
composed  of  several  musical  passages,  each  of  which  does 
not  continue  more  than  the  third  part  of  a minute ; but 
they  are  so  varied,  the  passing  from  one  tone  to  another  is 
so  fanciful  and  so  rapid,  and  the  melody  so  sweet  and  so 
mellow,  that  the  most  consummate  musician  is  pleasingly 
led  to  a deep  sense  of  admiration  at  hearing  it.  Sometimes 
joyful  and  merry,  it  runs  down  the  diapason  with  the 
velocity  of  lightning,  touching  the  treble  and  the  bass  nearly 
at  the  same  instant ; at  other  times,  mournful  and  plaintive, 
the  unfortunate  Philomela  draws  heavily  her  lengthened 
notes,  and  breathes  a delightful  melancholy  around.  These 
have  the  appearance  of  sorrowful  sighs ; the  other  modula- 
tions resemble  the  laughter  of  the  happy.  Solitary  on  the 
twig  of  a small  tree,  and  cautiously  at  a certain  distance 
from  the  nest,  where  the  pledges  of  his  love  are  treasured 
under  the  fostering  breast  of  his  mate,  the  male  fills  con- 
stantly the  silent  woods  with  his  harmonious  strains ; and 
during  the  whole  night  entertains  and  repays  his  female  for 
the  irksome  duties  of  incubation.  For  the  Nightingale  not 
only  sings  at  intervals  during  the  day,  but  he  waits  till  the 
blackbird  and  the  thrush  have  uttered  their  evening  call, 


THE  NIGHTINGALE. 


57 


even  till  the  stock  and  ring  doves  have,  by  their  soft  mur- 
murings,  lulled  each  other  to  rest,  and  then  he  pours  forth 
his  full  tide  of  melody. 

Listening  Philomela  deigns 

To  let  them  joy,  and  purposes,  in  thought 
Elate,  to  make  her  night  excel  their  day. 

t Thomson. 

It  is  a great  subject  of  astonishment  that  so  small  a bird 
should  be  endowed  with  such  potent  lungs.  If  the  evening 
is  calm,  it  is  supposed  that  its  song  may  be  heard  above 
half  a mile.  This  bird,  the  ornament  and  charm  of  the 
spring  and  early  summer  evenings,  as  it  arrives  in  April, 
and  continues  singing  till  June,  disappears  on  a sudden 
about  September  or  October,  when  it  leaves  England  to  pass 
the  winter  in  the  North  of  Africa  and  Syria.  Its  visits  to 
England  are  limited  to  certain  counties,  mostly  in  the 
south  and  east;  as,  though  it  is  plentiful  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  London,  and  along  the  south  coast  in  Sussex,  Hampshire, 
and  Dorsetshire  : it  is  not  found  in  either  Cornwall  or 
Wales.  As  soon  as  the  young  are  hatched,  the  song  of  the 
male  bird  ceases,  and  he  only  utters  a harsh  croak,  by  way 
of  giving  alarm  when  any  one  approaches  the  nest.  Night- 
ingales are  sometimes  reared  up,  and  doomed  to  the  prison 
of  a cage ; in  this  state  they  sing  ten  months  in  the  year, 
though  in  their  wild  life  they  sing  only  as  many  weeks. 
Bingley  says  that  a caged  Nightingale  sings  much  more 
sweetly  than  those  which  we  hear  abroad  in  the  spring. 

4 


58  THE  RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 

THE  RED- WINGED  BLACKBIRD,  OR  TROOPIAL. 

(, Sturnus  predator  ius.') 

This  bird  is  common  in  all  parts  of  North  America.  He 
is  nine  inches  in  length  and  fourteen  in  extent.  The  gene- 
ral colour  is  glossy  black,  with  a very  splendid  scarlet 
marking,  like  a broad  epaulette,  on  his  shoulders.  His 
habits  will  be  learned  from  the  following 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Mr.  Wilson  calls  this  bird  the  Red-winged  Starling,  and 
gives  us  from  his  own  observation  the  following  curious 
particulars  of  his  winter  habits  : — 

The  Red-winged  Starlings,  though  generally  migratory 
in  the  states  north  of  Maryland,  are  found  during  winter  in 
immense  flocks,  sometimes  associated  with  the  purple  gra- 
kles,  and  often  by  themselves,  along  the  whole  lower  parts 
of  Virginia,  both  Carolinas,  Georgia,  and  Louisiana,  par- 
ticularly near  the  sea-coast,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  large  rice 
and  corn-fields. 

In  the  months  of  January  and  February,  while  passing 
through  the  former  of  these  countries,  I was  frequently 
entertained  with  the  aerial  evolutions  of  these  great  bodies 
of  Starlings.  Sometimes  they  appeared  driving  about  like 
an  enormous  black  cloud  carried  before  the  wind,  varying 
its  shape  every  moment  j sometimes  suddenly  rising  from 


THE  RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD.  59 

tlie  fields  around  me  with  a noise  like  thunder;  while  the 
glittering  of  innumerable  wings  of  the  brightest  vermillion 
amid  the  black  cloud  they  formed,  produced  on  these  occa- 
sions a very  striking  and  splendid  effect.  Then,  descending 
like  a torrent,  and  covering  the  branches  of  some  detached 
grove,  or  clump  of  trees,  the  whole  congregated  multitude  com- 
menced one  general  concert  or  chorus,  that  I have  plainly  dis- 
tinguished at  the  distance  of  more  than  two  miles,  and,  when 
listened  to  at  the  intermediate  space  of  about  a quarter  of  a 
mile,  with  a slight  breeze  of  wind  to  swell  and  soften  the 
flow  of  its  cadences,  was  to  me  grand,  and  even  sublime. 

The  whole  season  of  winter,  that,  with  most  birds,  is 
passed  in  struggling  to  sustain  life  in  silent  melancholy,  is, 
with  the  Red-wings,  one  continued  carnival.  The  profuse 
gleanings  of  the  old  rice,  corn,  and  buckwheat-fields,  supply 
them  with  abundant  food,  at  once  ready  and  nutritious ; and 
the  intermediate  time  is  spent  either  in  aerial  manoeuvres, 
or  in  grand  vocal  performances,  as  if  solicitous  to  supply 
the  absence  of  all  the  tuneful  summer  tribes,  and  to  cheer 
the  dejected  face  of  nature  with  their  whole  combined 
powers  of  harmony. 

From  the  same  excellent  authority  we  gather  the  follow- 
ing particulars  of  the  TroopiaFs  ravages  in  the  corn-fields  : — 

Before  the  beginning  of  September,  the  flocks  have  become 
numerous  and  formidable;  and  the  young  ears  of  maize, 
or  Indian  corn,  being  then  in  their  soft,  succulent,  milky, 
state,  present  a temptation  that  caunot  be  resisted.  Rein- 


60  THE  RED -WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 

forced  by  numerous  and  daily  flocks  from  all  parts  of  the 
interior,  they  pour  down  on  the  low  countries  in  prodigious 
multitudes.  Here  they  are  seen,  like  vast  clouds,  wheeling 
and  driving  over  the  meadows  and  devoted  corn-fields, 
darkening  the  air  with  their  numbers.  Then  commences 
the  work  of  destruction  on  the  corn,  the  husks  of  which, 
though  composed  of  numerous  envelopments  of  closely- 
wrapped  leaves,  are  soon  completely  or  partially  torn  off; 
while  from  all  quarters  myriads  continue  to  pour  down  like 
a tempest,  blackening  half  an  acre  at  a time ; and,  if  not 
disturbed,  repeat  their  depredations,  till  little  remains  but 
the  cob  and  the  shrivelled  skins  of  the  grain ; what  little  is 
left  of  the  tender  ear,  being  exposed  to  the  rains  and  weather, 
is  generally  much  injured. 

All  the  attacks  and  havoc  made  at  this  time  among  them 
with  the  gun,  and  by  the  hawks,  — several  species  of  which 
are  their  constant  attendants, — has  little  effect  on  the 
remainder.  When  the  hawks  make  a sweep  among  them, 
they  suddenly  open  on  all  sides,  but  rarely  in  time  to  dis- 
appoint them  of  their  victims ; and,  though  repeatedly  fired 
at,  with  mortal  effect,  they  only  remove  from  one  field  to 
an  adjoining  one,  or  to  another  quarter  of  the  same  enclosure. 
From  dawn  to  nearly  sunset,  this  open  and  daring  devasta- 
tion is  carried  on,  under  the  eye  of  the  proprietor;  and  a 
farmer,  who  has  any  considerable  extent  of  corn,  would 
require  half-a-dozen  men  at  least,  with  guns,  to  guard  it; 
and  even  then,  all  their  vigilance  and  activity  would  not 


THE  RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD.  61 

prevent  a good  tithe  of  it  from  becoming  the  prey  of  the 
Blackbirds.  The  Indians,  who  usually  plant  their  corn  in 
one  general  field,  keep  the  whole  young  boys  of  the  village 
all  day  patrolling  round  and  among  it;  and  each  being  fur- 
nished with  bow  and  arrows,  with  which  they  are  very 
expert,  they  generally  contrive  to  destroy  great  numbers  of 
them. 

It  must,  however,  be  observed,  that  this  scene  of  pillage 
is  principally  carried  on  in  the  low  countries,  not  far  from 
the  sea-coast,  or  near  the  extensive  flats  that  border  our 
large  rivers;  and  is  also  chiefly  confined  to  the  months 
of  August  and  September.  After  this  period,  the  corn 
having  acquired  its  hard,  shelly  coat,  and  the  seeds  of  the 
reeds  or  wild  oats,  with  a profusion  of  other  plants,  that 
abound  along  the  river  shores,  being  now  ripe,  and  in  great 
abundance,  they  present  a new  and  more  extensive  field  for 
these  marauding  multitudes.  The  reeds  also  supply  them 
with  convenient  roosting  places,  being  often  in  almost 
unapproachable  morasses;  and  thither  they  repair  every 
evening,  from  all  quarters  of  the  country. 

In  some  places,  however,  when  the  reeds  become  dry, 
advantage  is  taken  of  this  circumstance,  to  destroy  these 
birds,  by  a party  secretly  approaching  the  place,  under 
cover  of  a dark  night,  setting  fire  to  the  reeds  in  several 
places  at  once,  which  being  soon  enveloped  in  one  general 
flame,  the  uproar  among  the  Blackbirds  becomes  universal ; 
and,  by  the  light  of  the  conflagration,  they  are  shot  down 


62 


THE  SKYLARK. 


in  vast  numlbers;  while  hovering  and  screaming  over  the 
place.  Sometimes  straw  is  used  for  the  same  purpose, 
being  previously  strewed  near  the  reeds  and  alder  bushes, 
where  they  are  known  to  roost,  which  being  instantly  set 
on  fire,  the  consternation  and  havoc  are  prodigious ; and  the 
party  return  by  day  to  pick  up  the  slaughtered  game. 
About  the  first  of  November,  they  begin  to  move  off  towards 
the  south ; though,  near  the  sea-coast,  in  the'  states  of  New 
Jersey  and  Delaware  they  continue  long  after  that  period. 


THE  SKYLARK.  ( Alauda  arvensis.') 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  of  all  the  English  birds  is  the 
Skylark.  His  music  being  associated  with  the  rural  em- 
ployments and  pleasures  of  that  enlightened  and  refined 
nation,  has  occasioned  his  being  described  in  rapturous 
terms  by  their  poets  and  novelists. 

The  Skylark  is  generally  distinguished  from  most  other 
birds,  by  the  long  spur  on  his  back  toe,  the  earthy  colour 
of  his  feathers,  and  by  singing  as  he  mounts  up  in  the  air. 
The  common  Skylark  is  not  much  bigger  than  the  house- 
sparrow.  These  birds  generally  make  their  nest  in  meadows 
among  the  high  grass,  and  the  tint  of  their  plumage  resembles 
so  much  that  of  the  ground,  that  the  body  of  the  bird  is 
hardly  distinguishable  as  it  hops  along. 


THE  SKYLARK. 


63 


The  daisied  lea  lie  loves,  where  tufts  of  grass 
Luxuriant  crown  the  ridge  : there,  with  his  mate, 

He  founds  their  lonely  house,  of  withered  herbs, 

And  coarsest  spear-grass  ; next  the  inner  work, 

With  finer,  and  still  finer  fibres  lays, 

Rounding  it  curious  with  his  speckled  breast. 

Grahame. 

Larks  breed  thrice  a year,  in  May,  July,  and  August, 
rearing  their  young  in  a short  space  of  time. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

The  instinctive  warmth  of  attachment  which  the  female 
Skylark  bears  towards  her  own  species,  even  when  not  her 
nestling,  is  remarkable.  “In  the  month  of  May,”  says 
Buffon,  “ a young  hen  bird  was  brought  to  me,  which  was 
not  able  to  feed  without  assistance.  I caused  her  to  be 
reared ; and  she  was  hardly  fledged,  when  I received  from 
another  place,  a nest  of  three  or  four  unfledged  larks.  She 
took  a strong  liking  to  these  new  comers,  which  were  but 
little  younger  than  herself;  she  tended  them  night  and 
day,  cherished  them  beneath  her  wings,  and  fed  them  with 
her  bill.  Nothing  could  interrupt  her  tender  offices.  If 
the  young  ones  were  torn  from  her  she  flew  to  them  as  soon 
as  they  were  liberated,  and  would  not  think  of  effecting  her 
own  escape,  which  she  might  have  done  a hundred  times. 
Her  affection  grew  upon  her;  she  neglected  food  and  drink; 
she  at  length  required  the  same  support  as  her  adopted 
offspring,  and  expired  at  last,  consumed  with  maternal  soli- 


64 


THE  CARDINAL  BIRD. 


citude.  None  of  the  young  ones  long  survived  her.  They 
died  one  after  another ; so  essential  were  her  cares,  which 
were  equally  tender  and  judicious.” 

The  Lark  mounts  almost  perpendicularly,  and  by  succes- 
sive springs,  into  the  air ; where  it  hovers  at  a vast  height. 
Its  descent  is  in  an  oblique  direction,  unless  threatened  by 
some  ravenous  bird  of  prey,  or  attracted  by  its  mate ; when 
it  drops  to  the  ground  like  a stone.  On  its  first  leaving 
the  earth,  its  notes  are  feeble  and  interrupted;  but,  as  it 
rises,  these  gradually  swell  to  their  full  tone.  As  the  Lark’s 
flight  is  always  at  sun-rise,  there  is  something  in  the  scenery 
that  renders  the  music  of  the  lark  peculiarly  delightful : the 
opening  morning,  and  the  landscape  just  gilded  by  the  rays 
of  the  returning  sun,  and  the  beauty  of  the  surrounding 
objects,  all  contribute  to  heighten  our  relish  for  its  pleasing 
song. 


THE  CARDINAL  BIKD.  ( Cardinalis  Virginianus.') 

This  is  one  of  our  most  common  cage  birds ; and  is  very 
generally  known,  not  only  in  North  America,  but  even  in 
Europe,  numbers  of  them  having  been  carried  over  both  to 
France  and  England,  in  which  last  country  they  are  usually 
called  Virginia  Nightingales.  To  this  name,  Dr.  Latham 
observes,  u they  are  fully  entitled,”  from  the  clearness  and 


THE  CARDINAL  BIRD. 


65 


variety  of  their  notes,  which,  both  in  a wild  and  domestic 
state,  are  very  various  and  musical : many  of  them  resemble 
the  high  notes  of  a fife,  and  are  nearly  as  loud.  They  are 
in  song  from  March  to  September,  beginning  at  the  first 
appearance  of  dawn,  and  repeating  a favourite  stanza,  or 
passage,  twenty  or  thirty  times  successively;  sometimes, 
with  little  intermission,  for  a whole  morning  together, 
which,  like  a good  story  too  often  repeated,  becomes  at  length 
tiresome  and  insipid.  But  the  sprightly  figure  and  gaudy 
plumage  of  the  Bed-Bird,  his  vivacity,  strength  of  voice,  and 
actual  variety  of  note,  and  the  little  expense  with  which 
he  is  kept,  will  always  make  him  a favourite. 

The  Cardinal  Bird  is  eight  inches  long,  and  eleven 
in  extent.  The  whole  upper  parts  are  a dusky  red,  except 
the  sides  of  the  neck  and  the  head,  which,  as  well  as 
all  the  lower  parts,  are  bright  vermilion,  and  chin  and  front 
black.  The  head  is  ornamented  with  a pointed  crest,  which 
may  be  raised  or  lowered  at  pleasure.  The  beak  is  red, 
thick  and  strong.  The  female  is  smaller,  but  nearly  as 
brilliant  in  plumage,  and  sings  nearly  as  well  as  the  male. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

The  opinion  which  so  generally  prevails  in  England  (says 
Wilson)  that  the  music  of  the  groves  and  woods  of  America 
is  far  inferior  to  that  of  Europe,  I,  who  have  a thousand 
times  listened  to  both,  cannot  admit  to  be  correct.  We 
cannot  with  fairness  draw  a comparison  between  tho  depth 


66 


THE  CARDINAL  BIRD 


of  the  forest  in  America,  and  the  cultivated  fields  of  Eng- 
land; because  it  is  a well-known  fact,  that  singing  birds 
seldom  frequent  the  former  in  any  country.  But  let 
the  latter  places  be  compared  with  the  like  situations  in 
the  United  States,  and  the  superiority  of  song,  I am  fully 
persuaded,  would  justly  belong  to  the  western  continent. 
The  few  of  our  song  birds  that  have  visited  Europe  extort 
admiration  from  the  best  judges.  “The  notes  of  the  Car- 
dinal Grosbeak,”  says  Latham,  “ are  almost  equal  to  those 
of  the  nightingale.”  Yet  these  notes,  clear  and  excellent 
as  they  are,  are  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  wood  thrush, 
and  even  to  those  of  the  brown  thrush,  or  thrasher.  Our 
inimitable  mocking  bird  is  also  acknowledged,  by  them- 
selves, to  be  fully  equal  to  the  song  of  the  nightingale,  “ in 
its  whole  compass.”  Yet  these  are  not  one  tenth  of  the 
number  of  our  singing  birds.  Could  these  people  be  trans- 
ported to  the  borders  of  our  woods  and  settlements,  in  the 
month  of  May,  about  half  an  hour  before  sunrise,  such  a 
ravishing  concert  would  greet  their  ear  as  they  have  no  con- 
ception of. 

The  males  of  the  Cardinal  Grosbeak,  when  confined 
together  in  a cage,  fight  violently.  On  placing  a looking- 
glass  before  the  cage,  the  gesticulations  of  the  tenant  are 
truly  laughable  : yet  with  this  he  soon  becomes  so  well 
acquainted,  that,  in  a short  time,  he  takes  no  notice  what- 
ever of  it;  a pretty  good  proof  that  he  has  discovered  the 
true  cause  of  the  appearance  to  proceed  from  himself.  They 


THE  MOCKING  BIRD. 


67 


are  hardy  birds,  easily  kept,  sing  six  or  eight  months  in  the 
year,  and  are  most  lively  in  wet  weather.  They  are 
generally  known  by  the  names;  Red-Bird,  Virginia  Red- 
Bird,  Virginia  Nightingale,  and  Crested  Red-Bird,  to  distin- 
guish them  from  another  beautiful  species,  the  Scarlet 
Tanager. 

I do  not  know  that  any  successful  attempts  have  been 
made  to  induce  these  birds  to  pair  and  breed  in  confinement ; 
but  I have  no  doubt  of  its  practicability,  by  proper  manage- 
ment. Some  months  ago,  I placed  a young,  unfledged 
cow-bird,  whose  mother,  like  the  cuckoo  of  Europe,  aban- 
dons her  eggs  and  progeny  to  the  mercy  and  management 
of  other  smaller  birds,  in  the  same  cage  with  a Red-Bird, 
which  fed  and  reared  it  with  great  tenderness.  They  both 
continue  to  inhabit  the  same  cage,  and  I have  hopes  that 
the  Red-Bird  will  finish  his  pupiFs  education  by  teaching 
him  his  song. 


THE  MOCKING  BIRD.  (Mimns  Polyglottus .) 

This  splendid  songster  is  not  remarkable  for  the  beauty 
of  his  plumage.  His  general  colour  is  ashy,  whitish  beneath, 
tips  of  the  wing-coverts  and  lateral  tail-feathers  white; 
general  form  slender  and  graceful ; length  nine  inches  and 
a half,  extent  thirteen  inches.  He  is  found  in  various  parts 


68 


THE  MOCKING  BIRD. 


of  America,  from  the  Middle  States  to  Brazil.  His  food 
consists  of  insects,  berries,  and  worms. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Mr.  Wilson,  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  the  Mocking  Bird, 
thus  describes  his  song  : — 

The  Mocking  Bird  loses  little  of  the  power  and  energy 
of  his  song  by  confinement.  In  his  domesticated  state, 
when  he  commences  his  career  of  song,  it  is  impossible  to 
stand  by  uninterested.  He  whistles  for  the  dog, — Caesar 
starts  up,  wags  his  tail,  and  runs  to  meet  his  master.  He 
squeaks  out  like  a hurt  chicken, — and  the  hen  hurries 
about  with  hanging  wings,  and  bristled  feathers,  clucking 
to  protect  its  injured  brood.  The  barking  of  the  dog,  the 
mewing  of  the  cat,  the  creaking  of  a passing  wheelbarrow, 
follow  with  great  truth  and  rapidity.  He  repeats  the  tune 
taught  him  by  his  master,  though  of  considerable  length, 
fully  and  faithfully.  He  runs  over  the  quiverings  of  the 
canary,  and  the  clear  whistlings  of  the  Virginia  nightin- 
gale, or  red-bird,  with  such  superior  execution  and  effect, 
that  the  mortified  songsters  feel  their  own  inferiority,  and 
become  altogether  silent ; while  he  seems  to  triumph  in  their 
defeat  by  redoubling  his  exertions. 

Were  it  not  to  seem  invidious  in  the  eyes  of  foreigners,  I 
might,  in  this  place,  make  a comparative  statement  between 
the  powers  of  the  Mocking  Bird,  and  the  only  bird,  I believe, 
in  the  world,  worthy  of  being  compared  with  him, — the 


THE  MOCKING  BIRD. 


69 


European  nightingale.  This,  however,  I am  unable  to  do 
from  my  own  observation,  having  never  myself  heard  the 
song  of  the  latter;  and,  even  if  I had,  perhaps  something 
might  be  laid  to  the  score  of  partiality,  which,  as  a faithful 
biographer,  I am  anxious  to  avoid.  I shall,  therefore, 
present  the  reader  with  the  opinion  of  a distinguished  English 
naturalist  and  curious  observer,  on  this  subject,  the  Honour- 
able Haines  Barrington,  who,  at  the  time  he  made  the  com- 
munication, was  vice-president  of  the  Boyal  Society,  to  which 
it  was  addressed. 

“ It  may  not  be  improper  here,”  says  this  gentleman,  “ to 
consider  whether  the  nightingale  may  not  have  a very 
formidable  competitor  in  the  American  Mocking  Bird, 
though  almost  all  travellers  agree,  that  the  concert  in  the 
European  woods  is  superior  to  that  of  the  other  parts  of  the 
globe.”  eeI  have  happened,  however,  to  hear  the  American 
Mocking  Bird,  in  great  perfection,  at  Messrs.  Yogels  and 
Scotts,  in  Love  Lane,  Eastcheap.  This  bird  is  believed  to 
be  still  living,  and  hath  been  in  England  these  six  years. 
During  the  space  of  a minute,  he  imitated  the  woodlark, 
chaffinch,  blackbird,  thrush,  and  sparrow.  I was  told  also 
that  he  would  bark  like  a dog;  so  that  the  bird  seems  to 
have  no  choice  in  his  imitations,  though  his  pipe  comes 
nearest  to  our  nightingale  of  any  bird  I have  yet  met  with. 

u With  regard  to  the  original  notes,  however,  of  this  bird, 
we  are  still  at  a loss,  as  this  can  only  be  known  by  those 
who  are  accurately  acquainted  with  the  song  of  the  other' 


70 


THE  CROW. 


American  birds.  Kalm  indeed  informs  us,  that  the  natural 
song  is  excellent;  but  this  traveller  seems  not  to  have 
been  long  enough  in  America  to  have  distinguished  what 
were  the  genuine  notes : with  us,  mimics  do  not  often  suc- 
ceed but  in  imitations.  I have  little  doubt,  however,  but 
that  this  bird  would  be  fully  equal  to  the  song  of  the 
nightingale  in  its  whole  compass ; but  then,  from  the  atten- 
tion which  the  Mocker  pays  to  any  other  sort  of  disagreeable 
noise,  these  capital  notes  would  be  always  debased  by  a bad 
mixture.” 


THE  CROW.  ( Corvus  Coronet) 

Mr.  Wilson  considers  our  American  Crow  identical 
with  the  European  species.  It  is  eighteen  inches  and  a 
half  long,  and  three  feet  two  inches  in  extent ; the  colour 
shining  glossy  blue-black ; bill  and  legs  black.  In  other 
particulars  it  agrees  with  the  European  Crow. 

He  is  the  most  generally  known  and  least  beloved  of  all 
our  land  birds;  having  (as  Mr.  Wilson  observes)  neither 
melody  of  song,  nor  beauty  of  plumage,  nor  excellence  of 
flesh,  nor  civility  of  manners  to  recommend  him ; on  the 
contrary,  he  is  branded  as  a thief  and  a plunderer  — a kind 
of  black-coated  vagabond,  who  hovers  over  the  fields  of  the 
industrious,  fattening  on  their  labours,  and,  by  his  voracity, 


THE  CEO  W. 


71 


often  blasting  tbeir  expectations.  Hated  as  he  is  by  the 
farmer,  watched  and  persecuted  by  almost  every  bearer  of  a 
gun,  who  all  triumph  in  his  destruction,  had  not  Heaven 
bestowed  on  him  intelligence  and  sagacity  far  beyond  com- 
mon, there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  whole  tribe  (in 
these  parts  at  least)  would  long  ago  have  ceased  to  exist. 

It  is  in  the  month  of  May,  and  until  the  middle  of  J une, 
that  the  Crow  is  most  destructive  to  the  corn-fields,  digging 
up  the  newly  planted  grains  of  maize,  pulling  up  by  the 
roots  those  that  have  begun  to  vegetate,  and  thus  frequently 
obliging  the  farmer  to  replant,  or  lose  the  benefit  of  the 
soil ; and  this  sometimes  twice,  and  even  three  times,  occa- 
sioning a considerable  additional  expense,  and  inequality 
of  harvest.  No  mercy  is  now  shown  him.  The  myriads  of 
worms,  moles,  mice,  caterpillars,  grubs,  and  beetles,  which 
he  has  destroyed,  are  altogether  overlooked  on  these  occa- 
sions. Detected  in  robbing  the  hens'  nests,  pulling  up  the 
corn,  and  killing  the  young  chickens,  he  is  considered  as 
an  outlaw,  and  sentenced  to  destruction.  But  the  great 
difficulty  is,  how  to  put  this  sentence  in  execution.  In 
vain  the  gunner  skulks  along  the  hedges  and  fences ; his 
faithful  sentinels,  planted  on  some  commanding  point,  raise 
the  alarm,  and  disappoint  vengeance  of  its- object.  The 
coast  again  clear,  he  returns  once  more  in  silence,  to  finish 
the  repast  he  had  begun.  Sometimes  he  approaches  the 
farm-house  by  stealth,  in  search  of  young  chickens,  which 
he  is  in  the  habit  of  snatching  off,  when  he  can  elude  the 


72 


THE  CRO  W. 

vigilance  of  tlie  mother  hen,  who  often  proves  too  formida- 
ble for  him. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

A few  days  ago  (says  Mr.  Wilson),  a Crow  was  observed 
eagerly  attempting  to  seize  some  young  chickens  in  an 
orchard,  near  the  room  where  I write ; but  these  clustering 
close  round  the  hen,  she  resolutely  defended  them,  drove 
the  Crow  into  an  apple-tree,  whither  she  instantly  pursued 
him  with  such  spirit  and  intrepidity,  that  he  was  glad  to 
make  a speedy  retreat,  and  abandon  his  design. 

The  Crow  himself  sometimes  falls  a prey  to  the  superior 
strength  and  rapacity  of  the  great  owl,  whose  weapons  of 
offence  are  by  far  the  more  formidable  of  the  two. 

“ A few  years  ago,”  says  a correspondent  of  Mr.  Wilson, 
u I resided  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  about  seven  miles 
from  the  city  of  New  York.  Not  far  from  the  place  of  my 
residence  was  a pretty  thick  wood  or  swamp,  in  which  great 
numbers  of  Crows,  who  used  to  cross  the  river  from  the 
opposite  shore,  were  accustomed  to  roost.  Returning  home- 
ward one  afternoon,  from  a shooting  excursion,  I had  occa- 
sion to  pass  through  this  swamp.  It  was  near  sunset,  and 
troops  of  Crows  were  flying  in  all  directions  over  my  head. 
While  engaged  in  observing  their  flight,  and  endeavouring 
to  select  from  among  them  an  object  to  shoot  at,  my  ears 
were  suddenly  assailed  by  the  distressful  cries  of  a Crow, 
who  was  evidently  struggling  under  the  talons  of  a merci- 


THE  CROW. 


73 


less  and  rapacious  enemy.  I hastened  to  the  spot  whence 
the  sounds  proceeded,  and,  to  my  great  surprise,  found  a 
Crow  lying  on  the  ground,  just  expiring,  and,  seated  upon 
the  body  of  the  yet  warm  and  bleeding  quarry,  a large 
brown  owl , who  was  beginning  to  make  a meal  of  the  unfor- 
tunate robber  of  corn-fields.  Perceiving  my  approach,  he 
forsook  his  prey  with  evident  reluctance,  and  flew  into  a 
tree  at  a little  distance,  where  he  sat  watching  all  my 
movements,  alternately  regarding,  with  longing  eyes,  the 
victim  he  had  been  forced  to  leave,  and  darting  at  me  no 
very  friendly  looks,  that  seemed  to  reproach  me  for  having 
deprived  him  of  his  expected  regale. 

u I confess  that  the  scene  before  me  was  altogether  novel 
and  surprising.  I am  but  little  conversant  with  natural 
history ) but  I had  always  understood,  that  the  depredations 
of  the  owl  were  confined  to  the  smaller  birds,  and  animals 
of  the  lesser  kind,  such  as  mice,  young  rabbits,  &c.,  and 
that  he  obtained  his  prey  rather  by  fraud  and  stratagem, 
than  by  open  rapacity  and  violence.  I was  the  more  con- 
firmed in  this  belief,  from  the  recollection  of  a passage  in 
Macbeth,  which  now  forcibly  recurred  to  my  memory.  The 
courtiers  of  King  Duncan  are  recounting  to  each  other  the 
various  prodigies  that  preceded  his  death,  and  one  of  them 
relates  to  his  wondering  auditors,  that 

An  eagle,  towering  in  his  pride  of  place, 

Was  by  a morning  owl  hawked  at  and  killed. 

5 


74 


THE  W II  I P-P  0 0 R-W  ILL. 


But  to  resume  my  relation  : That  the  owl  was  the  mur- 
derer of  the  unfortunate  Crow,  there  could  be  no  doubt. 
No  other  bird  of  prey  was  in  sight;  I had  not  fired  my  gun 
since  I entered  the  wood ; nor  heard  any  one  else  shoot : 
besides,  the  unequivocal  situation  in  which  I found  the 
parties,  would  have  been  sufficient,  before  any  ‘ twelve  good 
men  and  true/  or  a jury  of  Crows,  to  have  convicted  him 
of  his  guilt.  It  is  proper  to  add,  that  I avenged  the  death 
of  the  hapless  Crow,  by  a well-aimed  shot  at  the  felonious 
robber,  that  extended  him  breathless  on  the  ground.” 


THE  WHIP-POOR-WILL.  (Caprimulgus  vociferus.^) 

This  celebrated  bird  is  common  in  various  parts  of  the 
United  States.  Its  name  is  derived  from  its  notes,  which 
seem  pretty  plainly  to  articulate  the  words  whip-poor-will , 
the  first  and  last  syllable  being  uttered  with  great  emphasis, 
and  the  whole  in  about  a second  to  each  repetition.  It  has 
been  sometimes  confounded  with  the  two  other  species  of 
the  genus,  the  church-will’ s-widow  and  the  night-hawk. 
Mr.  Wilson,  however,  has  settled  the  question,  by  examin- 
ing and  accurately  describing  the  different  species.  The 
Whip-poor-will  is  nine  inches  long  and  nineteen  in  extent ; 
the  bill  is  blackish,  a quarter  of  an  inch  long,  much  stronger 


THE  WHIP-POOR-WILL. 


75 


than  that  of  the  night-hawk,  and  bent  at  the  point.  The 
month  is  very  large,  and  beset  on  the  sides  with  long 
elastic  bristles,  which  serve  as  feelers  and  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  winged  insects  on  which  it  feeds.  Our 
engraving  shows  its  figure  in  flight,  and  its  curious  markings. 

The  Whip-poor-will  is  never  seen  during  the  day,  unless 
in  circumstances  such  as  have  been  described.  Their  food 
appears  to  be  large  moths,  grasshoppers,  pismires,  and  such 
insects  as  frequent  the  bark  of  old  rotten  and  decaying  tim- 
ber. They  are  also  expert  in  darting  after  winged  insects. 
They  will  sometimes  skim  in  the  dust,  within  a few  feet  of 
a person,  uttering  a kind  of  low  chatter  as  they  pass.  In 
their  migrations  north,  and  on  their  return,  they  probably 
stop  a day  or  two  at  some  of  their  former  stages,  and  do 
not  advance  in  one  continued  flight. 


ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTE. 

The  following  little  incident,  narrated  by  Mr.  Wilson, 
illustrates  at  once  a trait  in  the  character  of  the  bird,  and 
the  gentle  and  humane  disposition  of  the  naturalist : — 

In  traversing  the  woods  one  day  in  the  early  part  of 
June,  along  the  brow  of  a rocky  declivity,  a Whip-poor- 
will  rose  from  my  feet,  and  fluttered  along,  sometimes 
prostrating  herself,  and  beating  the  ground  with  her  wings, 
as  if  just  expiring.  Aware  of  her  purpose,  I stood  still, 
and  began  to  examine  the  space  immediately  around  me  for 


76 


THE  CUCKOO. 


the  eggs  or  young,  one  or  other  of  which  I was  certain 
must  be  near.  After  a long  search,  to  my  mortification,  I 
could  find  neither;  and  was  just  going  to  abandon  the  spot, 
when  I perceived  somewhat  like  a slight  mouldiness  among 
the  withered  leaves,  and,  on  stooping  down,  discovered  it 
to  be  a young  Whip-poor-will,  seemingly  asleep,  as  its  eye- 
lids were  nearly  closed ; or  perhaps  this  might  only  be  to 
protect  its  tender  eyes  from  the  glare  of  day.  I sat  down 
by  it  on  the  leaves,  and  drew  it  as  it  then  appeared.  It 
was  probably  not  a week  old.  All  the  while  I was  thus 
engaged,  it  neither  moved  its  body,  nor  opened  its  eyes 
more  than  half ; and  I left  it  as  I found  it.  After  I had 
walked  about  a quarter  of  a mile  from  the  spot,  recollecting 
that  I had  left  a pencil  behind,  I returned  and  found  my 
pencil,  but  the  young  bird  was  gone. 


THE  CUCKOO.  ( Cuculus  canorus.') 

The  third  order  of  birds,  Scansores , or  Climbers,  includes 
some  species  which  are  very  interesting.  Of  these  we  will 
first  notice  the  English  Cuckoo.  She  is  twelve  inches  in 
length  from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail ; yel- 
low breast,  with  transverse  lines;  head,  wings,  and  body 
marked  with  black  and  tawny  stripes,  legs  short  and  covered 


THE  CUCKOO. 


77 


with  feathers.  The  curious  part  of  this  bird's  history  is 
the  fact  that  the  female  does  not  build  a nest;  but  lays  her 
eggs  in  that  of  another  bird,  generally  the  sparrow. 

The  American  Cuckoo,  or  Cow-bird,  is  quite  different 
in  its  habits  from  the  European  Cuckoo,  as  it  builds>  a nest 
for  its  eggs,  and  hatches  its  young  itself,  like  other  birds. 

On  the  18th  June,  1787,  Dr.  Jenner  examined  a nest  of 
a hedge-sparrow,  which  then  contained  a Cuckoo's  and  three 
hedge-sparrow's  eggs.  On  inspecting  it  the  day  following, 
the  bird  had  hatched;  but  the  nest  then  contained  only  a 
young  Cuckoo  and  one  young  hedge-sparrow.  The  nest 
was  placed  so  near  the  extremity  of  a hedge,  that  he  could 
distinctly  see  what  was  going  forward  in  it;  and,  to  his 
great  astonishment,  he  saw  the  young  Cuckoo,  though  so 
lately  hatched,  in  the  act  of  turning  out  the  young  hedge- 
sparrow. 

The  mode  of  accomplishing  this  was  curious : the  little 
animal,  with  the  assistance  of  its  rump  and  wings,  contrived 
to  get  the  bird  upon  its  back,  and  making  a lodgment  for 
its  burden  by  elevating  its  elbows,  climbed  backward  with 
it  up  the  side  of  the  nest,  till  it  reached  the  top ; where, 
resting  for  a moment,  it  threw  off  its  load  with  a jerk,  and 
quite  disengaged  it  from  the  nest.  After  remaining  a short 
time  in  this  situation,  and  feeling  about  with  the  extremities 
of  its  wings,  as  if  to  be  convinced  that  the  business  was  pro- 
perly executed,  it  dropped  into  the  nest  again. 

Dr.  Jenner  made  several  experiments  in  different  nests, 


78 


TIIE  KINGFISHER. 


by  repeatedly  putting  in  an  egg  to  the  young  Cuckoo; 
which  he  always  found  to  be  disposed  of  in  a similar 
manner. 


THE  KINGFISHER.  (. Alcedo  ispida.') 

This  bird  is  nearly  as  small  as  a common  sparrow,  but 
the  head  and  beak  appear  proportionally  too  big  for  the 
body.  The  bright  blue  of  the  back  and  wings  claims  our 
admiration,  as  it  changes  into  deep  purple  or  lively  green, 
according  to  the  angles  of  light  under  which  the  bird  pre- 
sents itself  to  the  eye.  It  is  generally  seen  on  the  banks 
of  rivers,  for  the  purpose  of  seizing  small  fish,  on  which  it 
subsists,  and  which  it  takes  in  amazing  quantities,  by 
balancing  itself  at  a distance  above  the  water  for  a certain 
time,  and  then  darting  on  the  fish  with  unerring  aim.  It 
dives  perpendicularly  into  the  water,  where  it  continues 
several  seconds,  and  then  brings  up  the  fish,  which  it  car- 
rier to  the  land,  beats  to  death,  and  afterwards  swallows. 
When  the  bird  cannot  find  a projecting  bough,  it  sits  on 
some  stone  near  the  brink,  or  even  on  the  gravel ; but  the 
moment  it  perceives  the  fish,  it  takes  a spring  upwards  of 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet,  and  drops  from  that  height  upon  its 
prey. 


V 


THE  TOUCAN.  79 

THE  GREEN  WOODPECKER,  (Ficus  viridis,) 

Receives  his  name  from  the  facility  with  which  he 
pecks  the  insects  from  the  chinks  of  trees  and  holes  in  the 
bark.  The  bill  is  straight,  strong,  and  angular  at  the  end ; 
and  in  most  of  the  species  is  formed  like  a wedge,  for  the 
purpose  of  piercing  the  trees.  The  nostrils  are  covered 
with  bristles.  The  tongue  is  very  long,  slender,  cylindrical, 
bony,  hard,  and  jagged  at  the  end.  The  toes  are  placed 
two  forward  and  two  backward ; and  the  tail  consists  of  ten 
hard,  stiff,  and  sharp-pointed  feathers.  A Woodpecker  is 
often  seen  hanging  by  his  claws,  and  resting  upon  his 
breast  against  the  stem  of  a tree ; when,  after  darting,  with 
great  strength  and  noise,  his  beak  against  the  bark,  he  runs 
round  the  tree  with  great  alacrity,  which  manoeuvre  has 
made  the  country  people  suppose  that  he  goes  round  to  see 
whether  he  has  not  pierced  the  tree  through  its  trunk ; 
though  the  fact  is,  the  bird  is  in  search  of  the  insects,  which 
he  hopes  to  have  driven  out  by  his  blow. 


THE  TOUCAN,  (Famphastos  tucanus ,) 

Is  a native  of  South  America,  very  conspicuous  for  the 
magnitude  and  shape  of  his  bill.  It  is  about  the  size  of 


80 


THE  CAROLINA  PARROT. 


the  magpie,  but  the  beak  alone  is  nearly  as  big  as  the  rest 
of  the  body;  the  head  is  large  and  strong,  and  the  neck 
short,  in  order  the  more  easily  to  support  the  bulk  of  such 
a beak.  The  head,  neck,  and  wings  are  black ; the  breast 
shines  with  a most  lovely  saffron  colour,  with  a certain  red- 
ness near  the  beginning ; the  lower  part  of  the  body  and 
the  thighs  are  of  a most  beautiful  vermilion ; the  tail  is 
black,  but  of  a bright  red  at  the  end. 

One  of  these  birds  that  was  kept  in  a cage  was  very  fond 
of  fruit,  which  it  he^ld  for  some  time  in  its  beak,  touching 
it  with  great  delight  with  the  tip  of  its  feathery  tongue,  and 
then  tossing  them  into  its  throat  by  .a  sudden  upright  jerk; 
it  also  fed  on  birds  and  other  small  animals. 


CAROLINA  PARROT.  ( Psittacus  Carolinensis.') 

Of  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  kinds  of  Parrots  (says 
Wilson)  enumerated  by  writers  as  inhabiting  the  various 
regions  of  the  globe,  this  is  the  only  species  found  native 
within  the  territory  of  the  United  States.  Our  engraving 
shows  that  this  bird  has  a far  more  elegant  form  than  the 
imported  parrots  which  we  see  in  cage^.  It  is  thirteen 
inches  long  and  twenty-one  in  extent;  its  forehead  and 
cheeks  are  orange  red ; beyond  this,  for  an  inch  and  a half 


THE  CAROLINA  PARROT. 


81 


down  and  round  the  neck,  a rich  and  pure  yellow ; shoulder 
and  bend  of  the  wing,  also  edged  with  rich  orange  red.  The 
general  colour  of  the  rest  of  the  plumage  is  a bright  yel- 
lowish, silky  green,  with  light  blue  reflections ; feet  a pale 
flesh-colour;  bill  white,  inclining  to  cream-colour.  It  is 
found  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Mr.  Wilson  gives  the  following  very  lively  account  of  the 
captive  state  of  one  of  these  birds : — 

Anxious  to  try  the  effects  of  education  on  one  of  those 
which  I had  procured  at  Big  Bone  Lick,  and  which  was 
but  slightly  wounded  in  the  wing,  I fixed  up  a place  for  it 
in  the  stern  of  my  boat,  and  presented  it  with  some  cockle 
burs,  which  it  freely  fed  on  in  less  than  an  hour  after  being 
on  board.  The  intermediate  time  between  eating  and 
sleeping  was  occupied  in  gnawing  the  sticks  that  formed  its 
place  of  confinement,  in  order  to  make  a practicable  breach ; 
which  it  repeatedly  effected.  When  I abandoned  the  river, 
and  travelled  by  land,  I wrapped  it  up  closely  in  a silk 
handkerchief,  tying  it  tightly  around,  and  carried  it  in  my 
pocket. 

When  I stopped  for  refreshment,  I unbound  my  prisoner, 
and  gave  it  its  allowance,  which  it  generally  despatched 
with  great  dexterity,  unhusking  the  seeds  from  the  bur  in 
a twinkling ; in  doing  which,  it  always  employed  its  left 
foot  to  hold  the  bur,  as  did  several  others  that  I kept  for 


82 


THE  CAROLINA  PARROT. 


some  time.  I began  to  think  that  this  might  be  peculiar 
to  the  whole  tribe,  and  that  the  whole  were,  if  I may  use 
the  expression,  left-footed;  but,  by  shooting  a number 
afterwards  while  engaged  in  eating  mulberries,  I found 
sometimes  the  left,  sometimes  the  right,  foot  stained  with 
the  fruit,  the  other  always  clean ; from  which,  and  the  con- 
stant practice  of  those  I kept,  it  appears,  that,  like  the 
human  species  in  the  use  of  their  hands,  they  do  not  prefer 
one  or  the  other  indiscriminately,  but  are  either  left  or 
right-footed. 

But  to  return  to  my  prisoner : In  recommitting  it  to 
u durance  vile,”  we  generally  had  a quarrel ; during  which 
it  frequently  paid  me  in  kind  for  the  wound  I had  inflicted, 
and  for  depriving  it  of  liberty,  by  cutting  and  almost  dis- 
abling several  of  my  fingers  with  its  sharp  and  powerful 
bill.  The  path  through  the  wilderness  between  Nashville 
and  Natchez  is  in  some  places  bad  beyond  description. 
There  are  dangerous  creeks  to  swim,  miles  of  morass  to 
struggle  through,  rendered  almost  as  gloomy  as  night  by  a 
prodigious  growth  of  timber,  and  an  underwood  of  canes 
and  other  evergreens ; while  the  descent  into  these  sluggish 
streams  is  often  ten  or  fifteen  feet  perpendicular,  into  a bed 
of  deep  clay.  In  some  of  the  worst  of  these  places,  where 
I had,  as  it  were,  to  fight  my  way  through,  the  Paroquet 
frequently  escaped  from  my  pocket,  obliging  me  to  dis- 
mount and  pursue  it  through  the  worst  of  the  morass  before 
I could  regain  it.  On  these  occasions,  I was  several  times 


THE  CAROLINA  PARROT,  83 

tempted,  to  abandon  it;  but  I persisted  in  bringing  it 
along. 

When  at  nigbt  I encamped  in  the  woods,  I placed  it  on 
tbe  baggage  beside  me,  where  it  usually  sat  with  great  com 
posure,  dozing  and  gazing  at  the  fire  till  morning.  In  thh 
manner  I carried  it  upwards  of  a thousand  miles,  in  mj 
pocket,  where  it  was  exposed  all  day  to  the  jolting  of  th* 
horse,  but  regularly  liberated  at  meal-times  and  in  thf 
evening,  at  which  it  always  expressed  great  satisfaction 
In  passing  through  the  Chickasaw  and  Choctaw  nations^ 
the  Indians,  wherever  I stopped  to  feed,  collected  around 
me,  men,  women,  and  children,  laughing,  and  seeming 
wonderfully  amused  with  the  novelty  of  my  companion. 
The  Chickasaws  called  it  in  their  language  u Kelinicy 
but  when  they  heard  me  call  it  Poll,  they  soon  repeated 
the  name;  and  wherever  I chanced  to  stop  among  these 
people,  we  soon  became  familiar  with  each  other  through 
the  medium  of  Poll. 

On  arriving  at  Mr.  Dunbar's,  below  Natchez,  I procured 
a cage,  and  placed  it  under  the  piazza,  where,  by  its  call,  it 
soon  attracted  the  passing  flocks ; such  is  the  attachment 
they  have  for  each  other.  Numerous  parties  frequently 
alighted  on  the  trees  immediately  above,  keeping  up  a con- 
stant conversation  with  the  prisoner.  One  of  these  I 
wounded  slightly  in  the  wing,  and  the  pleasure  Poll 
expressed  on  meeting  with  this  new  companion  was  really 
amusing.  She  crept  close  up  to  it  as  it  hung  on  the  side 


84 


THE  CAROLINA  PARROT. 


of  the  cage ; chattered  to  it  in  a low  tone  of  voice,  as  if 
sympathizing  in  its  misfortune;  scratched  about  its  head 
and  neck  with  her  bill ; and  both  at  night  nestled  as  close 
as  possible  to  each  other,  sometimes  Polks  head  being 
thrust  among  the  plumage  of  the  other.  On  the  death  of 
this  companion,  she  appeared  restless  and  inconsolable  for 
several  days. 

On  reaching  New  Orleans,  I placed  a looking-glass  beside 
the  place  where  she  usually  sat,  and  the  instant  she  per- 
ceived her  image,  all  her  former  fondness  seemed  to  return, 
so  that  she  could  scarcely  absent  herself  from  it  a moment. 
It  was  evident  that  she  was  completely  deceived.  Always 
when  evening  drew  on,  and  often  during  the  day,  she  laid 
her  head  close  to  that  of  the  image  in  the  glass,  and  began 
to  doze  with  great  composure  and  satisfaction.  In  this 
short  space  she  had  learned  to  know  her  name ; to  answer, 
and  come  when  called  on ; to  climb  up  my  clothes,  sit  on 
my  shoulder,  and  eat  from  my  mouth.  I took  her  with  me 
to  sea,  determined  to  persevere  in  her  education;  but, 
destined  to  another  fate,  poor  Poll,  having  one  morning, 
about  day-break,  wrought  her  way  through  the  cage,  while 
I was  asleep,  instantly  flew  overboard  and  perished  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 


THE  PEACOCK. 


85 


THE  PEACOCK.  ( Pavo  cristatus.') 

The  Gallinaceous  birds  ( Rasores ) form  the  fourth  order, 
which  includes  many  of  the  domestic  fowls,  and  others  use- 
ful to  man.  The  Peacock  is  the  most  celebrated  of  the 
order,  the  beauty  of  its  plumage  having  rendered  it  a 
favourite  in  all  ages  of  the  world ; indeed,  there  is  scarcely 
anything  in  nature  that  can  vie  with  the  transcendent  lustre 
of  the  Peacock’s  feathers.  The  changing  glory  of  his  neck 
eclipses  the  deep  azure  of  ultramarine;  and  at  the  least 
evolution,  it  assumes  the  green  tint  of  the  emerald,  and  the 
purple  hue  of  the  amethyst.  His  head,  which  is  small  and 
finely  shaped,  has  several  curious  stripes  of  white  and  black 
round  the  eyes,  and  is  surmounted  by  an  elegant  plume,  or 
tuft  of  feathers,  each  of  which  is  composed  of  a slender 
stem  and  a small  tuft  at  the  top.  Displayed  with  conscious 
pride,  and  exposed  under  a variety  of  angles  to  the  reflec- 
tions of  versatile  light,  the  broad  and  variegated  disks  of 
his  tail,  of  which  the  neck,  head,  and  breast  of  the  bird 
become  the  centre,  claims  our  well  merited  admiration.  By 
an  extraordinary  mixture  of  the  brightest  colours,  it  displays 
at  once  the  richness  of  gold,  and  the  paler  tints  of  silver, 
fringed  with  bronze-coloured  edges,  and  surrounding  eyc- 
like  spots  of  dark  brown  and  sapphire.  The  female  does 
not  share  in  the  beauty  of  the  cock,  and  her  feathers  are 
generally  of  a light  brown.  She  lays  only  a few  eggs  at  a 
time,  and  these  at  a distance  of  usually  three  or  four  days 


86 


THE  TURKEY. 


from  each  other;  they  are  white  and  spotted,  like  the  eggs 
of  the  turkey.  She  sits  from  twenty-seven  to  thirty 
days. 

The  loud  screamings  of  the  Peacock  are  worse  than  the 
harsh  croakings  of  the  raven,  and  a sure  prognostic  of  had 
weather ; and  his  feet,  more  clumsy  than  those  of  the  turkey, 
make  a sad  contrast  with  the  elegance  of  the  rest. 


THE  TURKEY,  (Meleagris  Gallo-Pavo ,) 

Was  originally  an  inhabitant  of  America,  whence  he  was 
brought  to  Europe  by  some  Jesuit  missionaries,  which  ac- 
counts for  his  being  called  a Jesuit  in  some  parts  of  continental 
Europe.  Except  the  tuft  on  the  head,  which  he  does  not 
share  with  the  peacock,  and  his  plumage,  which  is  very 
different  from  that  of  the  latter,  he  is  like  him  in  many  par- 
ticulars. The  general  colour  of  the  feathers  is  brown  and 
black ; and  turkeys  have  about  the  head,  especially  the  cock, 
naked  and  tuberous  lumps  of  flesh  of  a bright  red  colour.  A 
long  fleshy  appendage  hangs  from  the  base  of  the  upper 
mandible,  and  seems  to  be  lengthened  and  shortened  at 
pleasure.  The  hen  lays  from  fifteen  to  twenty  eggs,  which 
are  whitish  and  freckled.  The  chickens  are  very  tender, 
and  require  great  care  and  attentive  nursing,  before  they 
are  able  to  seek  their  food. 


THE  PINTADO. 


87 


The  wild  Turkey-cock  is,  in  our  American  forests,  an 
object  of  considerable  interest.  It  perches  on  the  tops  of  the 
deciduous  cypress  and  magnolias. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTE. 

A gentleman  of  New  York  received  from  a distant  part  a 
Turkey-cock  and  hen,  and  with  them  a pair  of  bantams; 
which  were  put  all  together  into  the  yard  with  his  other 
poultry.  Some  time  afterward,  as  he  was  feeding  them 
from  the  barn-door,  a large  hawk  suddenly  turned  the  corner 
of  the  barn,  and  made  a pounce  at  the  bantam  hen ; she 
immediately  gave  the  alarm,  by  a noise  which  is  natural  to 
her  on  such  occasions ; when  the  Turkey-cock,  who  was  at 
the  distance  of  about  two  yards,  and  without  doubt  under- 
stood the  hawk's  intention,  flew  at  the  tyrant  with  such 
violence,  and  gave  him  so  severe  a stroke  with  his  spurs, 
as  to  knock  him  from  the  hen  to  a considerable  distance ; by 
which  means  the  bantam  was  rescued  from  destruction. 


THE  PINTADO,  or  GUINEA  HEN. 

(Numida  Meleagris .) 

The  Pintado  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  common  hen ; 
the  head  is  bare  of  feathers,  and  covered  with  a naked 


88 


THE  PINTADO. 


skin  of  a bluish  colour;  on  the  top  is  a callous  protuberance 
of  a conical  form.  At  the  base  of  the  bill  on  each  side 
hangs  a loose  wattle,  red  in  the  female  and  bluish  in  the 
male.  The  general  colour  of  the  plumage  is  a dark  bluish 
gray,  sprinkled  with  round  white  spots  of  different  sizes, 
resembling  pearls,  from  which  circumstance  the  epithet  of 
pearled  has  been  applied  to  this  bird;  which,  at  first  sight, 
appears  as  if  it  had  been  pelted  by  a strong  shower  of  hail. 
These  spots,  which  we  find  of  a larger  dimension  upon  some 
of  the  feathers  of  the  pheasant,  and  bigger  still  on  the  tail 
of  the  peacock,  are  convincing  proofs  of  a near  relationship 
between  these  fowls. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTE. 

M.  Brue  informs  us,  that  when  he  was  on  the  coast  of 
Senegal,  he  received,  as  a present  from  an  African  princess, 
two  Guinea  fowls.  Both  these  birds  were  so  familiar  that 
they  would  approach  the  table  and  eat  out  of  his  plate; 
and,  when  they  had  liberty  to  fly  about  upon  the  beach, 
they  always  returned  to  the  ship  when  the  dinner  or  supper 
bell  rang. 

In  a wild  state  it  is  asserted  that  the  Pintado  associates 
in  numerous  flocks.  Dampier  speaks  of  having  seen  betwixt 
two  and  three  hundred  of  them  together  in  the  Cape  de 
Yerd  Islands. 


THE  TAME  PIGEON. 


89 


THE  TAME  PIGEON.  ( Columba  livia .) 

Passing  over  the  common  barn  fowl  and  the  partridge, 
pheasant,  quail,  and  grouse,  we  come  to  the  common  tame 
Pigeon,  as  a specimen  of  the  genus  Columba , of  which  there 
are  many  species.  The  tame  Pigeon  is  well  known  as  to 
the  shape,  but  the  colour  varies  so  much,  that  it  eludes  the 
rules  of  classification.  They  prefer  a gregarious  life,  and 
abide  often,  to  the  number  of  five  or  six  thousand,  in  a cot 
purposely  built  for  them  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a farm- 
yard, with  proper  holes  to  nestle  in.  The  female  Pigeon, 
through  the  whole  species,  lays  two  eggs  at  a time,  which 
produce  generally  a male  and  a female.  It  is  pleasing  to 
see  how  eager  the  male  is  to  sit  upon  the  eggs,  in  order 
that  his  mate  may  rest  and  feed  herself.  The  young  ones, 
when  hatched,  require  no  food  for  the  first  three  days, 
warmth  is  their  only  nourishment;  they  are  then  fed  from 
the  crop  of  the  mother ; who  has  the  power  of  forcing  up  the 
half-digested  peas  which  she  has  swallowed  to  give  them  to 
her  young.  The  young  ones,  open-mouthed,  receive  this 
tribute  of  affection,  and  are  thus  fed  three  times  a day. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTE. 

There  are  upwards  of  twenty  varieties  of  the  domestic 
Pigeon,  and  of  these  the  Carriers  are  the  most  celebrated. 
They  obtain  their  name  from  being  sometimes  employed  to 
6 


90 


THE  OSTRICH. 


convey  letters  or  small  packets  from  one  place  to  another. 
The  rapidity  of  their  flight  is  very  wonderful.  Leithgow 
assures  us  that  one  of  them  will  carry  a letter  from  Babylon 
to  Aleppo  (which,  to  a man,  is  usually  thirty  days’  journey) 
in  forty-eight  hours.  To  measure  their  speed  with  some 
degree  of  exactness,  a gentleman  many  years  ago,  on  a 
trifling  wager,  sent  a Carrier  Pigeon  from  London,  by  the 
coach,  to  a friend  at  Bury  St.  Edmond’s ; and  along  with  it 
a note,  desiring  that  the  Pigeon,  two  days  after  its  arrival 
there,  might  be  thrown  up  precisely  when  the  town  clock 
struck  nine  in  the  morning.  This  was  accordingly  done, 
and  the  Pigeon  arrived  in  London  at  half-past  eleven  o’clock 
of  the  same  morning,  having  flown  seventy-two  miles  in  two 
hours  and  a half.  From  the  instant  of  its  liberation,  its 
flight  is  directed  through  the  clouds,  at  a great  height,  to 
its  home.  By  an  instinct  altogether  inconceivable,  it  darts 
onward,  in  a straight  line,  to  the  very  spot  whence  it  was 
taken,  but  how  it  can  direct  its  flight  so  exactly  will  pro- 
bably for  ever  remain  unknown  to  us. 


THE  OSTKICH.  ( Struthio  camelus.') 

We  place  the  Ostrich  at  the  head  of  the  fifth  order  of 
birds,  the  Grallatores , or  Waders.  The  Ostrich  is  a native 
of  Africa.  It  is  one  of  the  tallest  of  birds  j as  when  it 


THE  OSTRICH. 


91 


Holds  up  its  Head  it  can  reacH  eleven  feet  in  HeigHt.  THe 
Head  is  very  small  in  comparison  with  tHe  body,  being 
Hardly  bigger  tHan  one  of  the  toes ; it  is  covered,  as  well  as 
tHe  neck,  witH  a certain  down,  or  tHin-set  Hairs,  instead  of 
featHers.  The  sides  and  thighs  are  entirely  bare  and  flesh- 
coloured.  THe  lower  part  of  the  neck,  where  the  featHers 
begin,  is  white.  THe  wings  are  short  and  of  no  use  in 
flying,  but  when  the  bird  runs,  which  it  does  with  a strange 
jumping  kind  of  motion,  it  raises  its  short  wings,  and  holds 
them  quivering  over  its  back,  where  they  seem  to  serve  as 
a kind  of  sail  to  gather  the  wind  and  carry  the  bird  on- 
wards. The  feathers  of  the  back,  in  the  cock,  are  coal- 
black  ) in  the  hen  only  dusky,  and  so  soft  that  they  resemble 
a kind  of  wool.  The  tail  is  thick,  bushy,  and  round ; in 
the  cock  whitish,  in  the  hen  dusky  with  white  tops.  These 
are  the  feathers  so  generally  in  requisition,  to  decorate  the 
head-dress  of  ladies  and  the  helmets  of  warriors. 

The  Ostrich  swallows  anything  that  presents  itself,  lea- 
ther, glass,  iron,  bread,  hair,  &c. ) and  the  power  of  digestion 
in  the  stomach  is  so  strong  that  even  iron  is  very  much 
affected  by  it.  An  Ostrich  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  in  the 
Regent’s  Park,  was,  however,  killed  by  swallowing  a lady’s 
parasol. 

O’er  the  wild  waste  the  stupid  Ostrich  strays, 

In  devious  search  to  pick  her  scanty  meal, 

Whose  fierce  digestion  gnaws  the  temper’d  steel. 

Mickle’s  Lusiad. 


92 


THE  OSTRICH. 


They  are  polygamous  birds ; one  male  being  generally 
seen  with  two  or  three,  and  sometimes  with  five  females. 
The  female  Ostrich,  in  the  tropical  regions,  after  depositing 
her  eggs  in  the  sand,  trusts  them  to  be  hatched  by  the  heat 
of  the  climate,  and  leaves  the  young  ones  to  provide  for 
themselves. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

That  Ostriches  have  great  affection  for  their  offspring, 
may  be  inferred  from  the  assertion  of  Professor  Thunberg, 
that  he  once  rode  past  the  place  where  a hen  Ostrich  was 
sitting  in  her  nest ; when  the  bird  sprang  up  and  pursued 
him,  evidently  with  a view  to  prevent  his  noticing  her  eggs 
or  young.  Every  time  he  turned  his  horse  towards  her, 
she  retreated  ten  or  twelve  paces ; but  as  soon  as  he  rode 
on  again,  she  pursued  him,  till  he  had  got  to  a considerable 
distance  from  the  place  where  he  had  started  her.  In  the 
tropical  regions,  some  persons  breed  Ostriches  in  flocks ; for 
they  may  be  tamed  with  very  little  trouble ) and  in  their 
domestic  state,  few  animals  may  be  rendered  more  useful. 
When  M.  Adanson  was  at  Podar,  a French  factory  on  the 
southern  bank  of  the  river  Niger,  two  young  but  full-grown 
Ostriches,  belonging  to  the  factory,  afforded  him  a very 
amusing  sight.  They  were  so  tame  that  two  little  blacks 
mounted  both  together  on  the  back  of  the  largest.  No 
sooner  did  he  feel  their  weight,  than  he  began  to  run  as  fast 
as  possible,  and  carried  them  several  times  round  the  village ; 


THE  CASSOWARY. 


93 


and  it  was  impossible  to  stop  him  otherwise  than  by  obstruct- 
ing the  passage.  This  sight  pleased  M.  Adanson  so  much, 
that  he  wished  it  to  be  repeated ; and  to  try  their  strength, 
he  directed  a full-grown  negro  to  mount  the  smaller,  and 
two  others  the  larger  of  the  birds.  This  burden  did  not 
seem  at  all  disproportioned  to  their  strength.  At  first,  they 
went  at  a tolerably  sharp  trot ; but  when  they  became  heated 
a little,  they  expanded  their  wings,  as  though  to  catch  the 
wind,  and  moved  with  such  fleetness  that  they  scarcely 
seemed  to  touch  the  ground.  The  foot  of  the  Ostrich  has 
only  two  toes ; one  of  which  is  extremely  large  and  strong, 
to  make  its  way  through  the  moving  sands  of  the  desert. 


THE  CASSOWARY,  ( Casuarms  galeatus ,) 

Is  next  in  size  to  the  ostrich,  but  of  a different  nature. 
His  wings  are  hardly  perceptible,  being  very  short,  and 
entirely  concealed  under  the  plumage.  The  general  tint 
of  his  feathers  is  brown,  with  some  spots  of  vermilion  red ; 
his  head  is  small  and  depressed,  with  a horny  crown ; the 
head  and  neck  are  deprived  of  feathers,  and  only  set  with  a 
kind  of  hairy  down.  From  the  bill  to  the  claws  the  body 
measures  about  five  feet  and  a half ; about  the  neck  are  two 
protuberances  of  a bluish  colour,  and  in  shape  like  the 


94 


THE  WHOOPING  CRANE. 


wattles  of  a cock.  Unlike  other  birds,  the  feathers  of  the 
wings,  and  other  parts  of  the  body,  are  exactly  the  same ; 
so  that  at  a distance  he  looks  rather  as  if  he  were  entirely 
covered  with  hairs  like  a bear,  than  with  plumage  like  a 
bird.  The  Cassowary  eats  indiscriminately  whatever  comes 
in  his  way,  and  does  not  seem  to  have  any  sort  of  predilec- 
tion in  the  choice  of  his  food.  He  is  a native  of  the  southern 
parts  of  India ; the  eggs  of  the  female  are  nearly  fifteen 
inches  in  circumference,  of  a grayish  ash-colour,  marked  with 
green.  It  has  been  said  of  the  Cassowary,  that  he  has  the 
head  of  a warrior,  the  eye  of  a lion,  the  armament  of  a por- 
cupine, and  the  swiftness  of  a courser. 


THE  WHOOPING  CRANE.  (Grus  Americana.') 

This  stately  Crane  (says  Mr.  Nuttall),  the  largest  of  all 
the  feathered  tribes  in  the  United  States,  like  the  rest  of 
its  family,  dwelling  amidst  marshes,  and  dark  and  desolate 
swamps,  according  to  the  season,  is  met  with  in  almosf  every 
part  of  Nprth  America,  from  the  islands  of  the  West  Indies, 
to  which  it  retires  to  pass  the  winter,  to  the  utmost  habitable 
regions  and  fur  countries  of  the  North.  A few  hybernate  in 
the  warmer  parts  of  the  Union,  and  some  have  been  known 
to  linger  through  the  whole  of  the  inclement  season  in  the 
swamps  of  New  Jersey,  near  to  Cape  May.  When  dis- 


THE  WHOOPING  CRANE. 


95 


covered  in  their  retreats,  they  are  observed  wandering  along 
the  marshes  and  muddy  flats  near  the  sea-shore,  in  quest  of 
reptiles,  fish,  and  marine  worms.  Occasionally  they  are  seen 
sailing  along  from  place  to  place  with  a heavy,  silent  flight, 
elevated  but  little  above  the  surface  of  the  earth.  Ever 
wary,  and  stealing  from  the  view  of  all  observers,  these 
gaunt  shades  of  something  which  constantly  avoids  the  social 
light,  impress  the  mind  no  less  with  curiosity  than  aversion, 
and  it  is  surprising,  that  furtive  and  inharmonious  as  owls, 
they  have  not  excited  the  prejudice  of  the  superstitious. 

At  times  they  utter  a loud,  clear,  and  piercing  cry,  that 
may  be  heard  to  a very  considerable  distance,  and  which, 
being  not  unaptly  compared  to  the  whoop  or  yell  of  the 
savages  when  rushing  to  battle,  has  conferred  upon  our  bird 
his  peculiar  appellation.  Other  species  of  the  genus  possess 
also  the  same  sonorous  cry.  When  wounded,  they  attack 
those  who  approach  them  with  considerable  vigour,  so  much 
so  as  to  have  been  known  to  dart  their  sharp  and  dagger-like 
bill  through  the  incautious  hand  held  out  for  their  capture. 
Indeed,  according  to  Dr.  Richardson,  they  have  sometimes 
driven  the  fowler  fairly  out  of  the  field. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Captain  Amidas  (the  first  Englishman  who  ever  set  foot 
in  North  America)  thus  graphically  describes  the  clamour 
of  the  Whooping  Cranes,  on  his  landing  on  the  isle  of  Wo- 


96 


THE  WHOOPING  CRANE. 


kokou,  off  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  month  of 
July  : “ Such  a flock  of  Cranes  (the  most  part  white)  arose 
under  us,  with  such  a cry,  redoubled  by  many  echoes,  as  if 
an  army  of  men  had  shouted  altogether.”  But  though  this 
display  of  their  discordant  calls  may  be  amusing,  the  bustle 
of  their  great  migrations,  and  the  passage  of  their  mighty 
armies,  fills  the  mind  with  wonder. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1811  (says  Mr.  Nuttall),  while 
leisurely  descending  on  the  bosom  of  the  Mississippi,  in  one 
of  the  trading  boats  of  that  period,  I had  an  opportunity  of 
witnessing  one  of  these  vast  migrations  of  the  Whooping 
Cranes,  assembled  by  many  thousands  from  all  the  marshes 
and  impassable  swamps  of  the  north  and  west.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  as  if  giving  up  its  quota  of  the  species  to 
swell  the  mighty  host.  Their  flight  took  place  in  the  night, 
down  the  great  aerial  valley  of  the  river,  whose  southern 
course  conducted  them  every  instant  towards  warmer  and 
more  hospitable  climes.  The  clangour  of  these  numerous 
legions  passing  along,  high  in  air,  seemed  almost  deafening ; 
the  confused  cry  of  the  vast  army  continued,  with  the  length- 
ening procession,  and  as  the  vocal  call  continued  nearly 
throughout  the  whole  night,  without  intermission,  some  idea 
may  be  formed  of  the  immensity  of  the  numbers  now  assem- 
bled on  their  annual  journey  to  the  regions  of  the  south. 


THE  STILT. 


97 


THE  BLACK-NECKED  STILT. 

( Himantopus  nigricollis.') 

This  curious  bird,  under  the  name  of  Long-legged  Avoset, 
is  described  by  Mr.  Wilson  in  his  usual  lively  and  interest- 
ing style.  He  says  : — 

This  species  arrives  on  the  sea-coast  of  New  Jersey  about 
the  25th  of  April,  in  small,  detached  flocks,  of  twenty  or 
thirty  together.  These  sometimes  again  subdivide  into 
lesser  parties ; but  it  rarely  happens  that  a pair  is  found 
solitary,  as,  during  the  breeding  season,  they  usually  asso- 
ciate in  small  companies.  On  ?their  first  arrival,  and, 
indeed,  during  the  whole  of  their  residence,  they  inhabit 
those  particular  parts  of  the  salt  marshes  pretty  high  up 
towards  the  land,  that  are  broken  into  numerous  shallow 
pools,  but  are  not  usually  overflowed  by  the  tides  during 
the  summer.  These  pools,  or  ponds,  are  generally  so  shal- 
low, that,  with  their  long  legs,  the  Avosets  can  easily  wade 
them  in  every  direction ) and,  as  they  abound  with  minute 
shell-fish,  and  multitudes  of  aquatic  insects  and  their  larvae, 
besides  the  eggs  and  spawn  of  others  deposited  in  the  soft 
mud  below,  these  birds  find  here  an  abundant  supply  of 
food,  and  are  almost  continually  seen  wading  about  in  such 
places,  often  up  to  the  breast  in  water. 

In  the  vicinity  of  these  bald  places,  as  they  are  called 
by  the  country  people,  and  at  the  distance  of  forty  or  fifty 
yards  off,  among  the  thick  tufts  of  grass,  one  of  these  small 


98 


THE  STILT. 


associations,  consisting  perhaps  of  six  or  eight  pair,  takes 
up  its  residence  during  the  breeding  season.  About  the 
first  week  in  May  they  begin  to  construct  their  nests,  which 
are  at*  first  slightly  formed  of  a small  quantity  of  old  grass, 
scarcely  sufficient  to  keep  the  eggs  from  the  wet  marsh. 
As  they  lay  and  sit,  however,  either  dreading  the  rise  of 
the  tides,  or  for  some  other  purpose,  the  nest  is  increased 
in  height,  with  dry  twigs  of  a shrub  very  common  in  the 
marshes,  roots  of  the  salt  grass,  sea-weed,  and  various  other 
substances,  the  whole  weighing  between  two  and  three 
pounds.  This  habit  of  adding  materials  to  the  nest  after 
the  female  begins  sitting,  is  common  to  almost  all  other 
birds  that  breed  in  the  marshes.  The  eggs  are  four  in 
number,  of  a dark  yellowish  clay-colour,  thickly  marked 
with  large  blotches  of  black.  These  nests  are  often  placed 
within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  of  each  other;  but  the 
greatest  harmony  seems  to  prevail  among  the  proprietors. 

While  the  females  are  sitting,  the  males  are  either  wading 
through  the  ponds,  or  roaming  over  the  adjoining  marshes; 
but  should  a person  make  his  appearance,  the  whole  collect 
together  in  the  air,  flying  with  their  long  legs  extended 
behind  them,  keeping  up  a continual  yelping  note  of  click, 
click , click.  Their  flight  is  steady,  and  not  in  short,  sud- 
den jerks,  like  that  of  the  plover.  As  they  frequently 
alight  on  the  bare  marsh,  they  drop  their  wings,  stand  with 
their  legs  half  bent,  and  trembling,  as  if  unable  to  sustain 
the  burden  of  their  bodies.  In  this  ridiculous  posture  they 


THE  FLAMINGO. 


99 


will  sometimes  stand  for  several  minutes,  uttering  a curring 
sound,  while,  from  the  corresponding  quiverings  of  their 
wings  and  long  legs,  they  seem  to  balance  themselves  with 
great  difficulty.  This  singular  manoeuvre  is,  no  doubt, 
intended  to  induce  a belief  that  they  may  be  easily  caught, 
and  so  turn  the  attention  of  the  person,  from  the  pursuit  of 
their  nests  and  young,  to  themselves. 

The  Red-necked  Avoset  practises  the  very  same  deception, 
in  the  same  ludicrous  manner,  and  both  alight  indiscriminate- 
ly on  the  ground  or  in  the  water.  Both  will  also  occasionally 
swim  for  a few  feet,  when  they  chance  in  wading  to  lose 
their  depth,  as  I have  had  several  times  an  opportunity  of 
observing. 

The  name  by  which  this  bird  is  known  on  the  sea-coast 
is  the  Stilt,  or  Tilt,  or  Long-Shanks.  They  are  but 
sparingly  dispersed  over  the  marshes,  having,  as  has  been 
already  observed,  their  particular  favourite  spots,  while  in 
large  intermediate  tracts,  there  are  few  or  none  to  be 
found. 


THE  AMERICAN,  OR  REB  FLAMINGO. 

(- Phoenicojpterus  ruber.') 

The  Flamingo  of  America  (says  Mr.  Nuttall)  is  found 
chiefly  in  the  tropical  regions,  from  whence  it  appears  to 


100 


THE  FLAMINGO. 


emigrate  in  summer,  on  either  side  of  the  equator;  in  the 
southern  hemisphere,  visiting  Brazil,  Peru,  Chili,  and 
Buenos  Ayres,  on  the  shores  of  La  Plata.  It  is  also  seen 
in  Cayenne  (where  it  is  known  by  the  name  of  Tococo, 
from  the  usual  sound  of  its  call),  and  in  various  islands  of 
the  West  Indies.  They  breed  in  Cuba  and  the  Bahamas, 
are  not  unfrequent  at  certain  seasons  on  the  coast  of  Florida, 
and  sometimes  solitary  individuals  are  observed  even  in  the 
Middle  States;  but  in  the  Union  generally,  the  species  may 
be  considered  as  rare. 

When  seen  at  a distance,  such  is  the  brilliancy  of  their 
dress,  and  the  elevation  at  which  they  stand,  that  they 
appear  like  a troop  of  soldiers,  being  arranged  alongside  of 
each  other,  in  lines,  while  on  the  borders  of  rivers  and 
estuaries  near  the  sea,  they  assemble  in  search  of  their  food, 
which  consists  chiefly  of  small  fish,  spawn,  and  aquatic 
insects. 

They  collect  their  prey  by  plunging  in  the  bill  and  part 
of  the  head ; and  from  time  to  time  trample  with  their  feet, 
to  disturb  the  water,  and  raise  it  from  the  bottom.  While 
the  rest  are  thus  employed  in  seeking  their  subsistence,  one 
of  them  stands  sentinel,  and,  on  the  first  note  of  alarm,  a 
kind  of  trumpet-call,  he  takes  to  wing,  and  the  whole  flock 
immediately  follow. 

The  Flamingo  has  the  neck  and  legs  in  a greater  dispro- 
portion than  any  other  bird.  The  length  from  the  end  of 
the  bill  to  that  of  the  tail  is  four  feet  two  or  three  inches ; 


THE  STORMY  PETREL. 


101 


but  to  the  end  of  the  claws  measures  sometimes  more  than 
six  feet.  The  bill  is  four  inches  and  a quarter  long ; as  far 
as  the  bend  black,  but  from  thence  to  the  base,  reddish- 
yellow;  round  the  base  quite  to  the  eye,  covered  with  a 
flesh-coloured  cere. 

The  plumage  deep  scarlet  in  the  adult,  except  the  quills, 
wnich  are  black.  From  the  base  of  the  thigh  to  the  claws, 
measures  thirty-two  inches,  of  which  the  feathered  part 
takes  up  no  more  than  three. 


WILSON'S  STOEMY  PETEEL. 

( Thalasidroma  Wilsonii.') 

We  commence  our  series  of  the  Palmipedes , or  Web- 
Footed  birds,  with  this,  which  is  called  Wilson's  Stormy 
Petrel,  in  honour  of  Alexander  Wilson,  the  celebrated  his- 
torian of  American  birds.  It  is  on  his  authority  that  we 
give  the  following  description  and  illustrative  anecdotes  : — 
The  Stormy  Petrel,  the  least  of  the  whole  twenty-four 
species  of  its  tribe  enumerated  by  ornithologists,  and  the 
smallest  of  all  palmated  fowls,  is  found  over  the  whole 
Atlantic  Ocean,  from  Europe  to  North  America,  at  all 
distances  from  land,  and  in  all  weathers,  but  is  particularly 
numerous  near  vessels,  immediately  preceding  and  during  a 
gale,  when  flocks  of  them  crowd  in  her  wake,  seeming  then 


102 


THE  STORMY  PETREL. 


more  than  usually  active  in  picking  up  various  matters  from 
the  surface  of  the  water. 

The  Stormy  Petrels,  or  Mother  Carey’s  Chickens,  breed 
in  great  numbers  on  the  rocky  shores  of  the  Bahama  and 
the  Bermuda  Islands,  and  in  some  places  on  the  coast  of 
East  Florida  and  Cuba.  They  breed  in  communities,  like 
the  bank  swallows,  making  their  nests  in  the  holes  and 
cavities  of  the  rocks  above  the  sea,  returning  to  feed  their 
young  only  during  the  night,  with  the  superabundant  oily 
food  from  their  stomachs.  At  these  times  they  may  be 
heard  making  a continued  cluttering  sound,  like  frogs, 
during  the  whole  night.  In  the  day  they  are  silent,  and 
wander  widely  over  the  ocean.  This  easily  accounts  for  the 
vast  distance  they  are  sometimes  seen  from  land,  even  in 
the  breeding  season.  The  rapidity  of  their  flight  is  at  least 
equal  to  the  fleetness  of  our  swallows.  Calculating  this  at 
the  rate  of  one  mile  per  minute,  twelve  hours  would  be 
sufficient  to  waft  them  a distance  of  seven  hundred  and 
twenty  miles ; but  it  is  probable  that  the  far  greater  part 
confine  themselves  much  nearer  land  during  that  interesting 
period. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

In  the  month  of  July,  while  on  a voyage  from  New 
Orleans  to  New  York,  I saw  few  or  none  of  these  birds  in 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  although  our  ship  was  detained  there 
by  calms  for  twenty  days,  and  carried  by  currents  as  far 


THE  STORMY  PETREL. 


103 


south  as  Cape  Antonio,  the  westernmost  extremity  of  Cuba. 
On  entering  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  passing  along  the  coasts 
of  Florida  and  the  Carolinas,  these  birds  made  their  appear- 
ance in  great  numbers,  and  in  all  weathers,  contributing 
much  by  their  sprightly  evolutions  of  wing  to  enliven  the 
scene,  and  affording  me  every  day  several  hours  of  amuse- 
ment. It  is  indeed  an  interesting  sight  to  observe  these  little 
birds  in  a gale,  coursing  over  the  waves,  down  the  declivities, 
up  the  ascents  of  the  foaming  surf  that  threatens  to  burst 
over  their  heads,  sweeping  along  the  hollow  troughs  of  the 
sea  as  in  a sheltered  valley,  and  again  mounting  with  the 
rising  billow,  and  just  above  its  surface  occasionally  dropping 
its  feet,  which,  striking  the  water,  throw  it  up  again  with 
additional  force ; sometimes  leaping,  with  both  legs  parallel, 
on  the  surface  of  the  roughest  waves  for  several  yards  at  a 
time.  Meanwhile  it  continues  coursing  from  side  to  side 
of  the  ship's  wake,  making  excursions  far  and  wide,  to  the 
right  and  to  the  left,  now  a great  way  ahead,  and  now 
shooting  astern  for  several  hundred  yards,  returning  again 
to  the  ship  as  if  she  were  all  the  while  stationary,  though 
perhaps  running  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots  an  hour  ! But  the 
most  singular  peculiarity  of  this  bird  is  its  faculty  of  stand- 
ing, and  even  running,  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  which 
it  performs  with  apparent  facility.  When  any  greasy  matter 
is  thrown  overboard,  these  birds  instantly  collect  around  it, 
and,  facing  to  windward,  with  their  long  wings  expanded, 
and  their  webbed  feet  patting  the  water,  the  lightness  of 


104 


THE  STORMY  PETREL. 


their  bodies  and  the  action  of  the  wind  on  their  wings  enable 
them  to  do  this  with  ease.  In  calm  weather,  they  perform  the 
same  manoeuvre,  by  keeping  their  wings  just  so  much  in 
action  as  to  prevent  their  feet  from  sinking  below  the  surface. 
According  to  BufFon,  it  is  from  this  singular  habit  that  the 
whole  genus  have  obtained  the  name  Petrel,  from  the 
Apostle  Peter,  who,  as  Scripture  informs  us,  also  walked  on 
the  water. 

As  these  birds  often  come  up  immediately  under  the 
stern,  one  can  examine  their  form  and  plumage  with  nearly 
as  much  accuracy  as  if  they  were  in  the  hand.  They  fly 
with  the  wings  forming  an  almost  straight,  horizontal  line 
with  the  body,  the  legs  extended  behind,  and  the  feet  partly 
seen  stretching  beyond  the  tail.  Their  common  note  of  u weet , 
weet ” is  scarcely  louder  than  that  of  a young  duck  of  a 
week  old,  and  much  resembling  it.  During  the  whole  of  a 
dark,  wet,  and  boisterous  night  which  I spent  on  deck,  they 
flew  about  the  after  rigging,  making  a singular  hoarse 
chattering,  which  in  sound  resembled  the  syllables  patr&t  tu 
cuk  cuk , tu  tu , laying  the  accent  strongly  on  the  second 
syllable  tret.  Now  and  then  I conjectured  that  they  alighted 
on  the  rigging,  making  then  a lower,  curring  noise. 

Notwithstanding  the  superstitious  fears  of  the  seamen, 
who  dreaded  the  vengeance  of  the  survivors,  I shot  four- 
teen of  these  birds  one  calm  day,  in  lat.  33°,  eighty  or 
ninety  miles  off  the  coast  of  Carolina,  and  had  the  boat 
lowered  to  pick  them  up.  These  I examined  with  consider- 


THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER.  105 


able  attention,  and  found  the  most  perfect  specimens  as 
follows  : — 

Length,  six  inches  and  three  quarters;  extent,  thirteen 
inches  and  a half;  bill,  black,  nostrils,  united  in  a tubular 
projection,  the  upper  mandible  grooved  from  thence,  and 
overhanging  the  lower  like  that  of  a bird  of  prey ; head, 
back,  and  lower  parts,  brown  sooty  black;  greater  wing- 
coverts,  pale  brown,  minutely  tipped  with  white ; sides  of 
the  vent,  and  whole  tail-coverts,  pure  white;  wings  and 
tail,  deep  black,  the  latter  nearly  even  at  the  tip,  or  very 
slightly  forked;  in  some  specimens,  two  or  three  of  the 
exterior  tail-feathers  were  white  for  an  inch  or  so  at  the 
root ; legs  and  naked  part  of  the  thighs,  black ; feet,  web- 
bed, with  the  slight  rudiments  of  a hind  toe  ; the  membrane 
of  the  food  is  marked  with  a spot  of  straw  yellow,  and  finely 
serrated  along  the  edges;  eyes,  black,  Male  and  female 
differing  nothing  in  colour. 


THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER.  (Rsemato^us 
ostralegus .) 

This  singular  species  (says  Wilson)  although  nowhere 
numerous,  inhabits  almost  every  sea-shore,  both  on  the  new 
and  old  continent,  but  is  never  found  inland.  It  is  the 
only  one  of  its  genus  hitherto  discovered,  and  froip  the  cop- 


106 


THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER. 


formation  of  some  of  its  parts,  one  might  almost  be  led  by 
fancy  to  suppose,  that  it  had  borrowed  the  eye  of  the 
pheasant,  the  legs  and  feet  of  the  bustard,  and  the  bill  of 
the  woodpecker. 

The  Oyster-Catcher  frequents  the  sandy  sea-beach  of  New 
Jersey,  and  other  parts  of  our  Atlantic  coast,  in  summer,  in 
small  parties  of  two  or  three  pairs  together.  They  are 
extremely  shy,  and,  except  about  the  season  of  breeding, 
will  seldom  permit  a person  to  approach  within  gunshot. 
They  walk  along  the  shore  in  a watchful,  stately  manner, 
at  times  probing  it  with  their  long,  wedge-like  bills,  in 
search  of  small  shell-fish.  This  appears  evident,  on  exa- 
mining the  hard  sands  where  they  usually  resort,  which  are 
found  thickly  perforated  with  oblong  holes,  two  or  three  inches 
in  depth.  The  small  crabs  called  fiddlers,  that  burrow  in  the 
mud  at  the  bottom  of  inlets,  are  frequently  the  prey  of  the 
Oyster-Catcher;  as  are  muscles,  spout  fish,  and  a variety 
of  other  shell-fish  and  sea  insects  with  which  those  shores 
abound. 

The  principal  food,  however,  of  this  bird,  according  to 
European  writers,  and  that  from  which  it  derives  its  name, 
is  the  oyster,  which  it  is  said  to  watch  for,  and  snatch 
suddenly  from  the  shells,  whenever  it  surprises  them  suffi- 
ciently open.  In  search  of  these,  it  is  reported  that  it  often 
frequents  the  oyster-beds,  looking  out  for  the  slightest 
opening  through  which  it  may  attack  its  unwary  prey.  For 
this  purpose  the  form  of  its  bill  seems  V^ry  fitly  cal- 


THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER.  107 


culated.  Yet  the  truth  of  these  accounts  is  doubted  by  the 
inhabitant^  of  Egg  Harbor,  and  other  parts  of  our  coast, 
who  positively  assert,  that  it  never  haunts  such  places,  but 
confines  itself  almost  solely  to  the  sands ; and  this  opinion 
I am  inclined  to  believe  correct,  having  myself  uniformly 
found  these  birds  on  the  smooth  beach  bordering  the  ocean, 
and  on  the  higher,  dry,  and  level  sands,  just  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  summer  tides.  On  this  last  situation,  where 
the  dry  flats  are  thickly  interspersed  with  drifted  shells,  I 
have  repeatedly  found  their  nests,  between  the  middle  and 
25th  of  May.  The  nest  itself  is  a slight  hollow  in  the 
sand,  containing  three  eggs,  somewhat  less  than  those  of  a 
hen,  and  nearly  of  the  same  shape,  of  a bluish  cream-colour, 
marked  with  large,  roundish  spots  of  black,  and  others  of  a 
fainter  tint.  In  some,  the  ground  cream-colour  is  destitute 
of  the  bluish  tint,  the  blotches  larger,  and  of  a deep  brown. 
The  young  are  hatched  about  the  25th  of  May,  and  some- 
times earlier,  having  myself  caught  them  running  along  the 
beach  about  that  period.  They  are  at  first  covered  with 
down  of  a grayish  colour,  very  much  resembling  that  of  the 
sand,  and  marked  with  a streak  of  brownish  black  on  the 
back,  rump,  and  neck,  the  breast  being  dusky,  where,  in 
the  old  ones,  it  is  black.  The  bill  is  at  that  age  slightly 
bent  downwards  at  the  tip,  where,  like  most  other  young 
birds,  it  has  a hard  protuberance  that  assists  them  in  break- 
ing the  shell ; but  in  a few  days  afterwards  this  falls  off. 
These  run  along  the  shore  with  great  ease  and  swiftness. 


108  THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER. 

Latham  observes,  that  the  young  are  said  to  he  hatched  in 
about  three  weeks ; and  though  they  are  wild  when  in  flocks, 
yet  are  easily  brought  up  tame,  if  taken  young.  “ I have 
known  them,”  says  he,  u to  be  thus  kept  for  a long  time, 
frequenting  the  ponds  and  ditches  during  the  day,  attending 
the  ducks  and  other  poultry  to  shelter  of  nights,  and 
not  unfrequently  to  come  up  of  themselves  as  evening 
approaches.” 

The  female  sits  on  her  eggs  only  during  the  night,  or  in 
remarkably  cold  and  rainy  weather ; at  other  times  the  heat 
of  the  sun  and  of  the  sand,  which  is  sometimes  great, 
renders  incubation  unnecessary.  But  although  this  is  the 
case,  she  is  not  deficient  in  care  or  affection.  She  watches 
the  spot  with  an  attachment,  anxiety,  and  perseverance,  that 
are  really  surprising,  till  the  time  arrives  when  her  little 
offspring  burst  their  prisons,  and  follow  the  guiding  voice 
of  their  mother.  When  there  is  appearance  of  danger,  they 
squat  on  the  sand,  from  which  they  are  with  difficulty 
distinguished,  while  the  parents  make  large  circuits  around 
the  intruder,  alighting  sometimes  on  this  hand,  sometimes 
on  that,  uttering  repeated  cries,  and  practising  the  common 
affectionate  stratagem  of  counterfeited  lameness,  to  allure 
him  from  their  young. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Some  time  ago  (says  Mr.  Wilson)  I received  a stuffed 
specimen  of  the  Oyster-Catcher,  from  a gentleman  of  Boston, 


THE  PIED  OYSTER-CATCHER,  109 

an  experienced  sportsman,  who,  nevertheless,  was  unac- 
quainted with  this  bird.  He  informed  me,  that  two  very 
old  men  to  whom  it  was  shown,  called  it  a Hagdel.  He 
adds,  u It  was  shot  from  a flock,  which  was  first  discovered 
on  the  beach  near  the  entrance  of  Boston  Harbour.  On  the 
approach  of  the  gunner,  they  rose,  and  instantly  formed  in 
line,  like  a corps  of  troops,  and  advanced  in  perfect  order, 
keeping  well  dressed.  They  made  a number  of  circuits  in 
the  air  previous  to  being  shot  at,  but  wheeled  in  line; 
and  the  man  who  fired  into  the  flock,  observed  that  all 
their  evolutions  were  like  those  of  a regularly-organized 
military  company.” 

The  Oyster-Catcher  will  not  only  take  to  the  water  when 
wounded,  but  can  also  swim  and  -dive  well.  This  fact  I 
can  assert  from  my  own  observation,  the  exploits  of  one  of 
them  in  this  way  having  nearly  cost  me  my  life.  On  the 
sea-beach  of  Cape  May,  not  far  from  a deep  and  rapid  inlet, 
I broke  the  wing  of  one  of  these  birds,  and  being  without 
a dog,  instantly  pursued  it  towards  the  inlet,  which  it  made 
for  with  great  rapidity.  We  both  plunged  in  nearly  at  the 
same  instant ; but  the  bird  eluded  my  grasp,  and  I sunk 
beyond  my  depth;  it  was  not  until  this  moment  that  I 
recollected  having  carried  in  my  gun  along  with  me.  On 
rising  to  the  surface,  I found  the  bird  had  dived,  and  a 
strong  ebb  current  was  carrying  me  fast  towards  the  ocean, 
encumbered  with  a gun  and  all  my  shooting  apparatus ; I 
was  compelled  to  relinquish  my  bird,  and  to  make  for  the 


110  THE  PIED  0 YSTER-CATCHEK. 


shore,  with  considerable  mortification,  and  the  total  destruc- 
tion of  the  contents  of  my  powderhorn.  The  wounded  bird 
afterwards  rose,  and  swam  with  great  buoyancy  out  among 
the  breakers. 

On  the  same  day,  I shot  and  examined  three  individuals 
of  this  species,  two  of  which  measured  each  eighteen  inches 
in  length,  and  thirty-five  inches  in  extent ; the  other  was 
somewhat  less.  The  bills  varied  in  length,  measuring  three 
inches  and  three  quarters,  three  and  a half,  and  three  and 
a quarter,  thinly  compressed  at  the  point,  very  much  like 
that  of  the  woodpecker  tribe,  but  remarkably  narrowed 
near  the  base  where  the  nostrils  are  placed,  probably  that 
it  may  work  with  more  freedom  in  the  sand.  This  instru- 
ment, for  two-thirds  of  its  length  towards  the  point,  was 
evidently  much  worn  by  digging;  its  colour,  a rich  orange - 
scarlet,  somewhat  yellowish  near  the  tip;  eye,  large;  orbits, 
of  the  same  bright  scarlet  as  the  bill;  irides,  brilliant 
yellow;  pupil,  small,  bluish  black;  under  the  eye  is  a 
small  spot  of  white,  and  a large  bed  of  the  same  on  the 
wing-coverts ; head,  neck,  scapulars,  rump,  wing-quills,  and 
tail,  black ; several  of  the  primaries  are  marked  on  the  outer 
vanes  with  a slanting  band  of  white;  secondaries,  white, 
part  of  them  tipped  with  black ; the  whole  lower  parts  of 
the  body,  sides  of  the  rump,  tail-coverts,  and  that  portion 
of  the  tail  which  they  cover,  are  pure  white ; the  wings, 
when  shut,  cover  the  whole  white  plumage  of  the  back  and 
rump;  legs  and  naked  part  of  the  thighs,  pale  red;  feet, 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


Ill 


three-toed,  the  outer  joined  to  the  middle  by  a broad  and 
strong,  membrane,  and  each  bordered  with  a rough,  warty 
edge ; the  soles  of  the  feet  are  defended  from  the  hard  sand 
and  shells  by  a remarkably  thick  and  callous  warty  skin. 

On  opening  these  birds,  the  smallest  of  the  three  was 
found  to  be  a male ; the  gullet  widened  into  a kind  of 
crop ; the  stomach,  or  gizzard,  contained  fragments  of  shell- 
fish, pieces  of  crabs,  and  of  the  great  king-crab,  with  some 
dark  brown  marine  insects.  The  flesh  was  remarkably  firm 
and  muscular;  the  skull,  thick  and  strong,  intended,  no 
doubt,  as  in  the  woodpecker  tribe,  for  the  security  of  the 
brain  from  the  violent  concussions  it  might  receive  while 
the  bird  was  engaged  in  digging.  The  female  and  young 
birds  have  the  back  and  scapulars  of  a sooty  brownish  olive. 


THE  GREAT  HERON.  (Ardea  Herodias.') 

The  Great  Heron  (says  Mr.  Wilson)  is  a constant  inha- 
bitant of  the  Atlantic  coast,  from  New  York  to  Florida;  in 
deep  snows  and  severe  weather  seeking  the  open  springs  of 
the  cedar  and  cypress  swamps,  and  the  muddy  inlets  occa- 
sionally covered  by  the  tides.  On  the  higher  inland  parts 
of  the  country,  beyond  the  mountains,  they  are  less  nume- 
rous; and  one  which  was  shot  in  the  upper  parts  of  New 


112 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


Hampshire,  was  described  to  me  as  a great  curiosity.  Many 
of  their  breeding-places  occur  in  both  Carolinas,  chiefly  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  sea.  In  the  lower  parts  of  New  Jersey, 
they  have  also  their  favourite  places  for  building,  and  rearing 
their  young.  These  are  generally  in  the  gloomy  solitudes 
of  the  tallest  cedar  swamps,  where,  if  unmolested,  they  con- 
tinue annually  to  breed  for  many  years.  These  swamps 
are  from  half  a mile  to  a mile  in  breadth,  and  sometimes 
five  or  six  in  length,  and  appear  as  if  they  occupied  the 
former  channel  of  some  choked-up  river,  stream,  lake,  or 
arm  of  the  sea.  The  appearance  they  present  to  a stranger 
is  singular — a front  of  tall  and  perfectly  straight  trunks, 
rising  to  the  height  of  fifty  or  sixty  feet,  without  a limb, 
and  crowded  in  every  direction,  their  tops  so  closely  woven 
together  as  to  shut  out  the  day,  spreading  the  gloom  of  a 
perpetual  twilight  below.  On  a nearer  approach,  they  are 
found  to  rise  out  of  the  water,  which,  from  the  impregnation 
of  the  fallen  leaves  and  roots  of  the  cedars,  is  of  the  colour 
of  brandy.  Amidst  this  bottom  of  congregated  springs,  the 
ruins  of  the  former  forest  lie  piled  in  every  state  of  con- 
fusion. The  roots,  prostrate  logs,  and,  in  many  places,  the 
water,  are  covered  with  green,  mantling  moss,  while  an 
undergrowth  of  laurel,  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  high,  intersects 
every  opening  so  completely,  as  to  render  a passage  through 
laborious  and  harassing  beyond  description ; at  every  step, 
you  either  sink  to  the  knees,  clamber  over  fallen  timber, 
squeeze  yourself  through  between  the  stubborn  laurels,  or 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


113 


plunge  to  the'  middle  in  ponds  made  by  the  uprooting  of 
large  trees,  which  the  green  moss  concealed  from  observa- 
tion. In  calm  weather,  the  silence  of  death  reigns  in  these 
dreary  regions ; a few  interrupted  rays  of  light  shoot  across 
the  gloom ; and  unless  for  the  occasional  hollow  screams 
of  the  Herons,  and  the  melancholy  chirping  of  one  or  two 
species  of  small  birds,  all  is  silence,  solitude,  and  desolation. 
When  a breeze  rises,  at  first  it  sighs  mournfully  through 
the  tops ; but  as  the  gale  increases,  the  tall  mast-like  cedars 
wave  like  fishing-poles,  and  rubbing  against  each  other, 
produce  a variety  of  singular  noises,  that,  with  the  help  of 
a little  imagination,  resemble  shrieks,  groans,  growling  of 
bears,  wolves,  and  such  like  comfortable  music. 

On  the  tops  of  the  tallest  of  these  cedars  the  Herons 
construct  their  nests,  ten  or  fifteen  pair  sometimes  occupy- 
ing a particular  part  of  the  swamp.  The  nests  are  large, 
formed  of  sticks,  and  lined  with  smaller  twigs ; each  occupies 
the  top  of  a single  tree.  The  eggs  are  generally  four,  of  an 
oblong,  pointed  form,  larger  than  those  of  a hen,  and  of  a 
light  greenish  blue,  without  any  spots.  The  young  are 
produced  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  remain  on  the  trees 
until  they  are  full  as  heavy  as  the  old  ones,  being  extremely 
fat,  before  they  are  able  to  fly.  They  breed  but  once  in  the 
season.  If  disturbed  in  their  breeding-place,  the  old  birds 
fly  occasionally  over  the  spot,  sometimes  honking  like  a 
goose,  sometimes  uttering  a coarse,  hollow,  grunting  noise, 
like  that  of  a hog,  but  much  louder. 


114 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


The  Great  Heron  is  said  to  be  fat  at  the  full  moon,  and  lean 
at  its  decrease ; this  might  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  of 
their  fishing  regularly  by  moonlight  through  the  greater 
part  of  the  night,  as  well  as  during  the  day ; but  the  obser- 
vation is  not  universal,  for  at  such  times  I have  found  some 
lean,  as  well  as  others  fat.  The  young  are  said  to  be  excel- 
lent for  the  table,  and  even  the  old  birds,  when  in  good 
order,  and  properly  cooked,  are  esteemed  by  many. 

The  principal  food  of  the  Great  Heron  is  fish,  for  which 
he  watches  with  the  most  unwearied  patience,  and  seizes 
them  with  surprising  dexterity.  At  the  edge  of  the  river, 
pond,  or  sea-shore,  he  stands  fixed  and  motionless,  some- 
times for  hours  together.  But  his  stroke  is  quick  as  thought, 
and  ^sure  as  fate,  to  the  first  luckless  fish  that  approaches 
within  his  reach ; these  he  sometimes  beats  to  death,  and 
always  swallows  head  foremost,  such  being  their  uniform 
position  in  the  stomach.  He  is  also  an  excellent  mouser, 
and  of  great  service  to  our  meadows,  in  destroying  the  short- 
tailed or  meadow  mouse,  so  injurious  to  the  banks.  He  also 
feeds  eagerly  on  grasshoppers,  various  winged  insects,  par- 
ticularly dragon  flies,  which  he  is  very  expert  at  striking, 
and  also  eats  the  seeds  of  that  species  of  nymphge  usually 
called  spatterdocks,  so  abundant  along  our  fresh-water  ponds 
and  rivers. 

The  Heron  has  great  powers  of  wing,  flying  sometimes 
very  high,  and  to  a great  distance;  his  neck  doubled,  his 
head  drawn  in,  and  his  long  legs  stretched  out  in  a right 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


115 


line  behind  him,  appearing  like  a tail,  and,  probably,  serving 
the  same  rudder-like  office.  When  he  leaves  the  sea-coast, 
and  traces,  on  wing,  the  courses  of  the  creeks  or  rivers  up- 
wards, he  is  said  to  prognosticate  rain ; when  downwards, 
dry  weather.  He  is  most  jealously  vigilant  and  watchful 
of  man,  so  that  those  who  wish  to  succeed  in  shooting  the 
Heron,  must  approach  him  entirely  unseen,  and  by  strata- 
gem. The  same  inducements,  however,  for  his  destruction, 
do  not  prevail  here  as  in  Europe.  Our  sea-shores  and 
rivers  are  free  to  all  for  the  amusement  of  fishing.  Luxury 
has  not  yet  constructed  her  thousands  of  fish-ponds,  and 
surrounded  them  with  steel  traps,  spring  guns  and  Heron 
snares.  In  our  vast  fens,  meadows,  and  sea-marshes,  this 
stately  bird  roams  at  pleasure,  feasting  on  the  never-failing 
magazines  of  frogs,  fish,  seeds,  and  insects,  with  which  they 
abound,  and  of  which  he,  probably,  considers  himself  the 
sole  lord  and  proprietor.  I have  several  times  seen  the 
bald  eagle  attack  and  tease  the  Great  Heron ; but  whether 
for  sport,  or  to  make  him  disgorge  his  fish,  I am  uncertain. 

The  Common  Heron  of  Europe  very  much  resembles  the 
present,  which  might,  as  usual,  have  probably  been  ranked 
as  the  original  stock,  of  which  the  present  was  a mere 
degenerated  species,  were  it  not  that  the  American  is  greatly 
superior,  in  size  and  weight,  to  the  European  species ; the 
former  measuring  four  feet  four  inches,  and  weighing  up- 
wards of  seven  pounds ; the  latter,  three  feet  three  inches, 
and  rarely  weighing  more  than  four  pounds.  Yet,  with  the 


116 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


exception  of  size,  and  the  rust-coloured  thighs  of  the  present, 
they  are  extremely  alike.  The  Common  Heron  of  Europe, 
however,  is  not  an  inhabitant  of  the  United  States. 

The  Great  Heron  does  not  receive  his  full  plumage  during 
the  first  season,  nor  until  the  summer  of  the  second.  In 
the  first  season,  the  young  birds  are  entirely  destitute  of  the 
white  plumage  of  the  crown,  and  the  long,  pointed  feathers 
of  the  back,  shoulders,  and  breast.  In  this  dress  I have 
frequently  shot  them  in  autumn;  but  in  the  third  year, 
both  males  and  females  have  assumed  their  complete  dress, 
and,  contrary  to  all  the  European  accounts  which  I have 
met  with,  both  are  then  so  nearly  alike  in  colour  and 
markings,  as  scarcely  to  be  distinguished  from  each  other, 
both  having  the  long,  flowing  crest,  and  all  the  ornamental, 
white,  pointed  plumage  of  the  back  and  breast.  Indeed, 
this  sameness  in  the  plumage  of  the  males  and  females, 
when  arrived  at  their  perfect  state,  is  a characteristic  of  the 
whole  of  the  genus  with  which  I am  acquainted.  Whether 
it  be  different  with  those  of  Europe,  or  that  the  young  and 
imperfect  birds  have  been  hitherto  mistaken  for  females,  I 
will  not  pretend  to  say,  though  I think  the  latter  conjecture 
highly  probable,  as  the  night  raven  has  been  known  in 
Europe  for  several  centuries,  and  yet,  in  all  their  accounts, 
the  sameness  of  the  colours  and  plumage  of  the  male  and 
female  of  that  bird  is  nowhere  mentioned ; on  the  contrary, 
the  young,  or  yearling  bird,  has  been  universally  described 
as  the  female. 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


117 


ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

u The  Heron/'  says  an  English  writer,  u is  a very  ’great 
devourer  of  fish,  and  does  more  mischief  in  a pond  than  an 
otter.  People  who  have  kept  Herons,  have  had  the  curio- 
sity to  number  the  fish  they  feed  them  with  into  a tub  of 
water,  and  counting  them  again  afterwards,  it  has  been  found 
that  they  will  eat  up  fifty  moderate  dace  and  roaches  in  a 
day.  It  has  been  found,  that  in  carp-ponds  visited  by  this 
bird,  one  Heron  will  eat  up  a thousand  store  carp  in  a 
year ; and  will  hunt  them  so  close,  as  to  let  very  few  escape. 
The  readiest  method  of  destroying  this  mischievous  bird,  is 
by  fishing  for  him  in  the  manner  of  pike,  with  a baited 
hook.  When  the  haunt  of  the  Heron  is  found  out,  three 
or  four  small  roach,  or  dace,  are  to  be  procured,  and  each 
of  them  is  to  be  baited  on  a wire,  with  a strong  hook  at  the 
end,  entering  the  wire  just  at  the  gills,  and  letting  it  run 
just  under  the  skin  to  the  tail ; the  fish  will  live  in  this 
manner  for  five  or  six  days,  which  is  a very  essential  thing ; 
for  if  it  be  dead,  the  Heron  will  not  touch  it.  A strong 
line  is  then  to  be  prepared  of  silk  and  wire  twisted  together, 
and  is  to  be  about  two  yards  long ; tie  this  to  the  wire  that 
holds  the  hook,  and  to  the  other  end  of  it  there  is  to  be  tied 
a stone  of  about  a pound  weight;  let  three  or  four  of  these 
baits  be  sunk  in  different  shallow  parts  of  the  pond,  and,  in 
a night  or  two's  time,  the  Heron  will  not  fail  to  be  taken 
with  one  or  other  of  them." 


118 


THE  WOOD  IBIS. 


THE  WOOD  IBIS.  ( Tantalus  loculator.') 

THE  Wood  Ibis  (says  Mr.  Wilson)  inhabits  the  lower  parts 
of  Louisiana,  Carolina,  and  Georgia;  is  very  common  in 
Florida,  and  extends  as  far  south  as  Cayenne,  Brazil,  and 
various  parts  of  South  America.  In  the  United  States  it  is 
migratory ; but  has  never,  to  my  knowledge,  been  found  to  the 
north  of  Virginia.  Its  favourite  haunts  are  watery  savannas 
and  inland  swamps,  where  it  feeds  on  fish  and  reptiles.  The 
French  inhabitants  of  Louisiana  esteem  it  good  eating. 

With  the  particular  manners  of  this  species  I am  not 
personally  acquainted ; but  the  following  characteristic  traits 
are  given  of  it  by  Mr.  William  Bartram,  who  had  the  best 
opportunities  of  noting  them  : — 

u This  solitary  bird,”  he  observes,  u does  not  associate  in 
flocks,  but  is  generally  seen  alone,  commonly  near  the 
banks  of  great  rivers,  in  vast  marshes  or  meadows,  especially 
such  as  are  covered  by  inundations,  and  also  in  the  vast, 
deserted  rice  plantations ; he  stands  alone  on  the  topmost 
limb  of  tall,  dead  cypress-trees,  his  neck  contracted  or  drawn 
in  upon  his  shoulders,  and  his  beak  resting,  like  a long 
scythe,  upon  his  breast ; in  this  pensive  posture,  and  solitary 
situation,  they  look  extremely  grave,  sorrowful,  and  melan- 
choly, as  if  in  the  deepest  thought.  They  are  never  seen 
on  the  sea-coast,  and  yet  are  never  found  at  a great  distance 
from  it.  They  feed  on  serpents,  young  alligators,  frogs,  and 
other  reptiles.” 


THE  SNOW  GOOSE. 


119 


THE  SNOW  GOOSE.  ( Anas  hjperborea.') 

This  species,  called  on  the  sea-coast  the  Ked  Goose,  arrives 
in  the  river  Delaware,  from  the  north,  early  in  November, 
sometimes  in  considerable  flocks,  and  is  extremely  noisy, 
their  notes  being  shriller  and  more  squeaking  than  those  of 
the  Canada,  or  Common  Wild  Goose.  On  their  first  arrival 
they  make  but  a short  stay,  proceeding,  as  the  depth  of 
winter  approaches,  farther  to  the  south;  but  from  the 
middle  of  February,  until  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  in 
March,  they  are  frequently  numerous  along  both  shores  of 
the  Delaware,  about  and  below  Reedy  Island,  particularly 
near  Old  Duck  Creek,  in  the  state  of  Delaware.  They  feed 
on  the  roots  of  the  reeds  there,  tearing  them  up  from  the 
marshes  like  hogs.  Their  flesh,  like  most  others  of  their 
tribe,  that  feed  on  vegetables,  is  excellent. 

The  Snow  Goose  is  two  feet  eight  inches  in  length,  and 
five  feet  in  extent;  the  bill  is  three  inches  in  length, 
remarkably  thick  at  the  base,  and  rising  high  in  the  fore- 
head, but  becomes  small  and  compressed  at  the  extremity, 
where  each  mandible  is  furnished  with  a whitish  rounding 
nail ; the  colour  of  the  bill  is  a purplish  carmine ; the  edges 
of  the  two  mandibles  separate  from  each  other,  in  a singular 
manner,  for  their  whole  length,  and  this  gibbosity  is  occu- 
pied by  dentated  rows,  resembling  teeth,  these,  and  the 
parts  adjoining,  being  of  a blackish  colour;  the  whole 
plumage  is  of  a snowy  whiteness,  with  the  exception,  first, 


120 


THE  SNOW. GOOSE. 


of  the  fore  part  of  the  head  all  round  as  far  as  the  eyes, 
which  is  of  a yellowish  rust-colour,  intermixed  with  white ; 
and,  second,  the  nine  exterior  quill-feathers,  which  are  black, 
shafted  with  white,  and  white  at  the  root;  the  covers  of 
these  last,  and  also  the  bastard  wing,  are  sometimes  of  a 
pale  ash-colour;  the  legs  and  feet,  of  the  same  purplish 
carmine  as  the  bill ; iris,  dark  hazel ; the  tail  is  rounded 
and  consists  of  sixteen  feathers;  that,  and  the  wings,  when 
shut,  nearly  of  a length. 

The  bill  of  this  bird  is  singularly  curious ; the  edges  of 
the  upper  and  lower  gibbosities  have  each  twenty-three 
indentations,  or  strong  teeth,  on  each  side;  the  inside,  or 
concavity  of  the  upper  mandible,  has  also  seven  lateral  rows 
of  strong,  projecting  teeth ; and  the  tongue,  which  is  horny 
at  the  extremity,  is  armed  on  each  side  with  thirteen  long 
and  sharp,  bony  teeth,  placed  like  those  of  a saw,  with  their 
points  directed  backwards;  the  tongue  turned  up,  and  viewed 
on  its  lower  side,  looks  very  much  like  a human  finger  with 
its  nail.  This  conformation  of  the  mandibles,  exposing  two 
rows  of  strong  teeth,  has,  probably,  given  rise  to  the  epithet 
Laughing,  bestowed  on  one  of  its  varieties,  though  it  might, 
with  as  much  propriety,  have  been  named  the  Grinning 
Goose. 

The  specimen  from  which  the  above  description  was 
taken,  was  shot  on  the  Delaware,  below  Philadelphia,  on  the 
15th  of  February,  and  on  dissection  proved  to  be  a male ; 
the  windpipe  had  no  labyrinth,  but,  for  an  inch  or  two 


THE  SNOW  GOOSE. 


121 


before  its  divarication  into  the  lungs,  was  inflexible,  not 
extensile,  like  the  rest,  and  rather  wider  in  diameter.  The 
gullet  had  an  expansion  before  entering  the  stomach,  which 
last  was  remarkably  strong,  the  two  great  grinding  muscles 
being  nearly  five  inches  in  diameter.  The  stomach  was 
filled  with  fragments  of  the  roots  of  reeds,  and  fine  sand. 
The  intestines  measured  eight  feet  in  length,  and  were  not 
remarkably  thick.  The  liver  was  small. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Latham  observes  that  this  species  is  very  numerous  at 
Hudson’s  Bay,  that  they  visit  Severn  river  in  May,  and 
stay  a fortnight,  but  go  farther  north  to  breed ; they  return 
to  Severn  Fort  the  beginning  of  September,  and  stay  till 
the  middle  of  October,  when  they  depart  for  the  south,  and 
are  observed  to  be  attended  by  their  young,  in  flocks  in- 
numerable. They  seem  to  occupy  also  the  western  side  of 
America,  as  they  were  seen  at  Aoonalashka,  as  well  as  Kam- 
tschatka.  White  Brant,  with  black  tips  to  their  wings,  were 
also  shot  by  Captains  Lewis  and  Clark’s  exploring  party,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  which  were  probably  the 
same  as  the  present  species.  Mr.  Pennant  says,  “ They  are 
taken  by  the  Siberians  in  nets,  under  which  they  are  decoyed 
by  a person  covered  with  a white  skin,  and  crawling  on  all 
fours ; when,  others  driving  them,  these  stupid  birds,  mistak- 
ing him  for  their  leader,  follow  him,  when  they  are  entangled 
in  the  nets,  or  led  into  a kind  of  pond  made  for  the  pur- 

8 


122 


THE  ALBATROSS. 


pose!”  We  might  here,  with  propriety,  add — - This  wants 
confirmation. 


THE  WANDERING  ALBATROSS.  (. Diomedea 

exulans.') 

This  bird  is  found  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  from  Southern 
Africa  to  the  American  coast,  as  well  as  in  the  Pacific. 
There  are  three  species  of  the  genus,  viz : the  Albatross  of 
China;  the  Yellow  and  Black-beaked  Albatross,  and  the 
Common  or  Wandering  Albatross. 

The  Common  Albatross  is  the  species  which  is  most  fre- 
quently met  with  in  the  seas  of  Southern  Africa.  It  is  the 
largest  sea-bird  known.  On  account  of  its  size  and  colour 
it  is  often  called  the  Sheep  of  the  Cape, — a name  under 
which  it  is  found  in  several  voyages.  The  top  of  the  head 
is  a ruddy  gray ; the  rest  of  the  plumage  is  white,  with  the 
exception  of  several  transverse  black  bands  on  the  back,  and 
a few  of  the  wing-feathers.  The  feet  and  membrane  are  of 
a deep  flesh-colour ; the  bill  a pale  yellow. 

The  weight  of  this  bird  has  been  variously  stated,  at  from 
twelve  to  twenty-eight  pounds;  and  a similar  difference 
appears  to  exist  in  authors,  with  respect  to  the  distance 
between  the  extremity  of  the  extended  wings.  Forster  says 
about  ten  feet, — Parkins,  eleven  feet  seven  inches, — Cook, 
eleven  feet;  another  says  twelve  feet;  a specimen  in  the 


THE  ALBATROSS. 


123 


Leverian  museum  measured  thirteen  feet;  and  Ives  (p.  5), 
mentions  one,  shot  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  which 
measured  seventeen  feet  and  a half  from  wing  to  wing.  Dr. 
Arnott,  in  his  Physics,  says, — “ How  powerful  must  be  the 
wing-muscles  of  birds,  which  sustain  themselves  in  the  sky 
for  hours  together  ! The  Great  Albatross,  with  wings  extend- 
ing fourteen  feet  or  more,  is  seen  in  the  stormy  solitude  of 
the  Southern  Ocean,  accompanying  ships  for  whole  days 
without  ever  resting  on  the  waves  !” 

We  can,  from  this  circumstance,  readily  understand  the 
extensive  range  in  which  the  Albatross  is  found ; not  being 
confined,  as  Buffon  imagined,  to  the  Southern  Ocean,  but 
being  equally  abundant  in  the  northern  latitudes,  though 
Forster  says,  he  never  observed  it  within  the  tropics.  These 
birds  are  seen  in  immense  flocks  about  Behring's  Straits 
and  Kamtschatka,  about  the  end  of  J une,  frequenting  chiefly 
the  inner  sea,  the  Kurile  Islands,  and  the  B^y  of  Pent- 
schinensi,  whereas  scarcely  a straggler  is  to  be  seen  on  the 
eastern  or  American  shore.  They  seem  to  be  attracted 
thither  by  vast  shoals  of  fish,  whose  migratory  movements 
the  albatrosses  follow.  On  their  first  appearing  in  those 
seas,  they  are  very  lean,  but,  from  finding  abundance  of 
food,  they  soon  become  fat.  Their  voracity  is  so  great,  that 
they  will  often  swallow  a salmon  of  four  or  five  pounds 
weight,  and  then,  being  half  choked,  and  unable,  in  con- 
sequence, to  move,  the  natives  easily  knock  them  down 
with  a stick. 


124 


THE  ALBATitOSS. 


They  do  not,  however,  confine  themselves  to  fish,  but 
will  prey  on  any  other  sea-animal;  and  Cook's  sailors 
caught  them  with  a line  and  a hook.  The  Kamtschadales 
take  them  by  fastening  a cord  to  a large  hook,  baited  with 
a whole  fish,  which  the  birds  greedily  seize.  Their  usual 
food,  however,  seems  rather  to  be  fish-spawn  and  small 
molluscse.  M.  Querhoent  never  found  in  their  stomachs 
anything  besides  a thick  mucilage. 

Notwithstanding  their  strength,  they  never  venture  to 
attack  other  sea-birds,  but  are,  on  the  contrary,  attacked  by 
the  gulls.  “ Several  large  grey  gulls,"  says  Cook,  “ that 
were  pursuing  a white  albatross,  afforded  us  a diverting 
spectacle ; they  overtook  it,  notwithstanding  the  length  of 
its  wings,  and  they  tried  to  attack  it  under  the  belly,  that 
part  being  probably  defenceless ; the  albatross  had  now  no 
means  of  escaping,  but  by  dipping  its  body  into  the  water; 
its  formidable  bill  seemed  to  repel  them." 

Their  flesh  is  tough  and  dry;  but  the  Kamtschadales 
take  them  for  the  sake  of  their  entrails,  which  they  blow 
and  use  as  buoys  for  their  nets.  They  employ  the  wing- 
bones  also,  which  Edwards  says  are  as  long  as  their  whole 
body,  for  tobacco  pipes. 


THE  SWAN. 


125 


THE  SWAN.  ( Anas  Cygnus.') 

So  much  difference  is  there  between  this  bird  when  on 
land  and  in  the  water,  that  it  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  the 
same;  for  in  the  latter,  no  bird  can  possibly  exceed  it  for 
beauty  and  majestic  appearance.  When  it  ascends  from 
its  favourite  element,  its  motions  are  awkward,  and  its  neck  is 
stretched  forward  with  an  air  of  stupidity ; it  has,  indeed, 
the  air  of  being  only  a larger  sort  of  goose ; but  when  seen 
smoothly  gliding  along  the  water,  displaying  a thousand 
graceful  attitudes,  and  moving  at  pleasure  without  the 
smallest  apparent  effort,  there  is  not  a more  beautiful  figure 
in  all  nature.  In  its  form,  we  find  no  broken  or  harsh 
lines;  in  its  motions,  nothing  constrained  or  abrupt;  but 
the  roundest  contours,  and  the  easiest  transitions ; the  eye 
wanders  over  the  whole  with  unalloyed  pleasure,  and  with 
every  change  of  position  every  part  assumes  a new  grace. 
It  will  swim  faster  than  a man  can  walk. 

This  bird  has  long  been  rendered  domestic;  and  it  is 
now  a doubt  whether  there  be  any  of  the  tame  kind  in  a 
state  of  nature.  The  colour  of  the  tame  Swan  is  entirely 
white,  and  it  generally  weighs  full  twenty  pounds.  Under 
the  feathers  is  a very  thick  soft  down,  which  is  made  an 
article  of  commerce,  for  purposes  of  both  use  and  ornament. 
The  windpipe  sinks  down  into  the  lungs  in  the  ordinary 
manner ; and  it  is  the  most  silent  of  all  the  feathered  tribes ; 
it  can  do  nothing  more  than  hiss,  which  it  does  on  receiving 


126 


THE  SWAN. 


any  provocation.  In  these  respects  it  is  very  different  from 
the  wild  or  Whistling  Swan. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  as  delicate  in  its  appetites  as  it  is 
elegant  in  its  form.  Its  chief  food  is  corn,  bread,  herbs 
growing  in  the  water,  and  roots  and  seeds,  which  are  found 
near  the  margin.  At  the  time  of  incubation  it  prepares  a 
nest  in  some  retired  part  of  the  bank,  and  chiefly  where 
there  is  an  inlet  in  the  stream.  This  is  composed  of  water 
plants,  long  grass,  and  sticks : and  the  male  and  female 
assist  in  forming  it  with  great  assiduity.  The  Swan  lays 
seven  or  eight  eggs,  white,  one  every  other  day,  much 
larger  than  those  of  a goose,  with  a hard,  and  sometimes  a 
tuberous  shell.  It  sits  six  weeks  before  its  young  are 
excluded ) which  are  ash-coloured  when  they  first  leave  the 
shell,  and  for  some  months  after.  It  is  not  a little  dangerous 
to  approach  the  old  ones,  when  their  little  family  are  feed- 
ing round  them.  Their  fears,  as  well  as  their  pride,  seem 
to  take  the  alarm,  and  when  in  danger,  the  old  birds  carry 
off  the  young  ones  on  their  back.  A female  has  been 
known  to  attack  and  drown  a fox,  which  was  swimming 
towards  her  nest ; they  are  able  to  throw  down  and  trample 
on  youths  of  fifteen  or  sixteen ; and  an  old  Swan  can  break 
the  leg  of  a man  with  a single  stroke  of  its  wing. 


THE  COOT. 


127 


THE  CINEREOUS  COOT.  ( Fulica  Americana.') 

This  species  makes  its  appearance  in  Pennsylvania  about 
the  first  of  October.  Among  the  muddy  flats  and  islands 
of  the  river  Delawaref  which  are  periodically  overflowed, 
and  which  are  overgrown  with  the  reed,  or  wild  oats,  and 
rushes,  the  Coots  are  found.  They  are  hot  numerous,  and 
are  seldom  seen,  except  their  places  of  resort  be  covered 
with  water ; in  that  case  they  are  generally  found  sitting  on 
the  fallen  reed,  waiting  for  the  ebbing  of  the  tide,  which 
will  enable  them  to  feed.  Their  food  consists  of  various 
aquatic  plants,  seeds,  insects,  and,  it  is  said,  small  fish. 

The  Coot  has  an  aversion  to  take  wing,  and  can  seldom 
be  sprung  in  its  retreat  at  low  water ; for,  although  it  walks 
rather  awkwardly,  yet  it  contrives  to  skulk  through  the 
grass  and  reeds  with  great  speed,  the  compressed  form  of 
its  body,  like  that  of  the  rail  genus,  being  well  adapted  to 
the  purpose.  It  swims  remarkably  well,  and,  when  wounded, 
will  dive  like  a duck.  When  closely  pursued  in  the  water, 
it  generally  takes  to  the  shore,  rising  with  apparent  reluc- 
tance, like  a wounded  duck,  and  fluttering  along  the  surface, 
with  its  feet  pattering  on  the  water.  It  is  known  in  Penn- 
sylvania by  the  name  of  the  Mud-Hen. 

I have  never  yet  discovered  that  this  species  breeds  with 
us  (says  Wilson),  though  it  is  highly  probable  that  some 
few  may  occupy  the  marshes  of  the  interior,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  ponds  and  lakes,  for  this  purpose ) those  retired  situ- 


128 


THE  COOT. 


ations  being  well  adapted  to  the  batching  and  rearing  of 
their  young.  In  the  Southern  States,  particularly  South 
Carolina,  they  are  well  known ; but  the  Floridas  appear  to 
be  their  principal  rendezvous  for  the  business  of  incubation. 
u The  Coot,”  says  William  Bartram*,  “ is  a native  of  North 
America,  from  Pennsylvania  to  Florida.  They  inhabit 
large  rivers,  fresh-water  inlets  or  bays,  lagoons,  &c.,  where 
they  swim  and  feed  amongst  the  reeds  and  grass  of  the 
shores ; particularly  in  the  river  St.  Juan,  in  East  Florida ; 
where  they  are  found  in  immense  flocks.  They  are  loqua- 
cious and  noisy,  talking  to  one  another  night  and  day ; are 
constantly  on  the  water,  the  broad,  lobated  membranes  on 
their  toes  enabling  them  to  swim  and  dive  like  ducks.” 

The  Coot  inhabits  the  shores  of  Sweden  and  Norway; 
appears  in  the  spring,  and  very  rarely  visits  the  lakes  or 
moors.  Is  found  in  .Russia,  China,  Persia,  Greenland,  and 
Siberia.  It  is  common  in  France,  particularly  in  Lorraine. 

“ This  species  is  met  with  in  Great  Britain,  at  all  seasons 
of  the  year;  and  it  is  generally  believed,  that  it  does  not 
migrate  to  other  countries,  but  changes  its  stations,  and 
removes  in  the  autumn  from  the  lesser  pools,  or  loughs, 
where  the  young  have  been  reared,  to  the  larger  lakes, 
where  flocks  assemble  in  the  winter.  The  female  commonly 
builds  her  nest  in  a bunch  of  rushes,  surrounded  by  the 
water;  it  is  composed  of  a great  quantity  of  coarse  dried 
weeds,  well  matted  together,  and  lined  within  with  softer 
and  finer  grasses ; she  lays  from  twelve  to  fifteen  eggs  at  a 


THE  COOT. 


129 


time,  and  commonly  hatches  twice  in  a season ; her  eggs 
are  about  the  size  of  those  of  a pullet,  and  are  of  a pale 
brownish  white  colour,  sprinkled  with  numerous  small,  dark, 
spots,  which  at  the  thicker  end,  seem  as  if  they  had  run 
into  each  other,  and  formed  bigger  blotches. 

“ As  soon  as  the  young  quit  the  shell,  they  plunge  into 
the  water,  dive,  and  swim  about  with  great  ease ; but  they 
still  gather  together  about  the  mother,  and  take  shelter 
under  her  wings,  and  do  not  entirely  leave  her  for  some 
time.  They  are  at  first  covered  with  sooty  coloured  down, 
and  are  of  a shapeless  appearance ; while  they  are  in  this 
state,  and  before  they  have  learned  by  experience  to  shun 
danger,  the  kite,  moor  buzzard,  and  others  of  the  hawk 
tribe,  make  dreadful  havoc  among  them.” 

The  Cinereous  Coot  is  sixteen  inches  in  length,  and 
twenty-eight  in  extent;  bill,  one  inch  and  a half  long, 
white,  the  upper  mandible  slightly  notched  near  the  tip, 
and  marked  across  with  a band  of  chestnut,  the  lower  man- 
dible marked  on  each  side  with  a squarish  spot  of  the  like 
colour,  edged  on  the  lower  part  with  bright  yellow,  or  gam- 
boge, thence  to  the  tip,  pale  horn  colour ; membrane  of  the 
forehead,  dark  chestnut  brown ; irides,  cornelian  red ; 
beneath  the  eye,  in  most  specimens,  a whitish  spot;  the 
head  and  neck  are  of  a deep  shining  black,  resembling 
satin ; back  and  scapulars,  dirty  greenish  olive ; shoulders, 
breast,  and  wing-coverts,  slate  blue;  the  under  parts  are 
hoary;  vent  black;  beneath  the  tail,  pure  white;  primaries 


130 


THE  COOT. 


and  secondaries,  slate,  the  former  tipped  with  black,  the 
latter  with  white,  which  does  not  appear  when  the  wing  is 
closed ; outer  edges  of  the  wings,  white ; legs  and  toes  yel- 
lowish green,  the  scalloped  membrane  of  the  latter,  lead 
colour;  middle  toe,  including  the  claw,  three  inches  and 
three-cmarters  long. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Buffon  describes  the  mode  of  shooting  Coots  in  France, 
particularly  in  Lorraine,  on  the  great  pools  of  Tiaucourt, 
and  of  Indre ; hence  we  are  led  to  suppose,  that  they  are 
esteemed  as  an  article  of  food.  But  with  us,  who  are 
enabled,  by  the  abundance  and  variety  of  game,  to  indulge 
in  greater  luxuries  in  that  season  when  our  Coots  visit  us, 
they  are  considered  as  of  no  account,  and  are  seldom  eaten. 

The  European  ornithologists  represent  the  membrane  on 
the  forehead  of  the  Coot  as  white,  except  in  the  breeding 
season,  when  it  is  said  to  change  its  colour  to  pale  red. 
This  circumstance  would  induce  one  to  suppose,  that  our 
Coot  is  a different  species  from  the  European,  which  I have 
never  had  the  satisfaction  to  behold;  and,  indeed,  I am 
much  of  that  opinion. 

It  is  a very  rare  occurrence,  that  the  Coot  is  seen  in  the 
vicinity  of  Philadelphia  in  the  spring  or  summer.  The 
19th  of  March,  1814,  I had  the  satisfaction  of  being  pre- 
sented with  one,  a female,  which  was  shot  in  the  Schuylkill, 
at  Gray's  Ferry.  I could  see  no  difference  in  its  plumage 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


131 


and  markings,  from  those  of  the  full-grown  male,  except 
the  head  and  neck  not  being  of  so  deep  a black.  The 
membrane  on  the  forehead  was  not  more  than  half  the 
size  of  that  of  the  female  specimen,  described  above,  and  it 
was  of  the  same  colour,  viz.,  dark  chestnut.  All  the  birds 
which  I have  ever  seen,  had  this  appendage  of  the  same 
colour. 

In  Lewis  and  Clark’s  history  of  their  expedition,  mention 
is  made  of  a bird  which  is  common  on  the  Columbia;  is 
said  to  be  very  noisy,  to  have  a sharp,  shrill  whistle,  and 
to  associate  in  large  flocks ; it  is  called  the  Black  Duck. 
This  is  doubtless  a species  of  Coot,  but  whether  or  not  dif- 
ferent from  ours,  cannot  be  ascertained.  How  much  is  it 
to  be  regretted,  that,  in  an  expedition  of  discovery,  planned 
and  fitted  out  by  an  enlightened  government,  furnished 
with  every  means  for  safety,  subsistence,  and  research,  not 
one  naturalist,  not  one  draughtsman,  should  have  been  sent, 
to  observe  and  perpetuate  the  infinite  variety  of  natural 
productions,  many  of  which  are  entirely  unknown  to  the 
community  of  science,  which  that  extensive  tour  must  have 
revealed ! 


THE  SUMMER,  or  WOOD  DUCK.  {Anas  sponsa .) 

This  most  beautiful  of  Ducks  (says  Nuttall)  seems  to  be 
dressed  in  a studied  attire,  to  which  the  addition  of  a flow- 


132 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


ing  crest  adds  a finish  of  peculiar  elegance;  and  hence 
Linnaeus  has  dignified  the  species  with  the  title  of  Sponsa , 
or  the  Bride.  This  splendid  bird  is  peculiar  to  America, 
but  extends  its  residence  from  the  cold  regions  of  Hudson’s 
Bay,  in  the  54th  parallel,  to  Mexico  and  the  Antilles. 
Throughout  a great  part  of  this  vast  space,  or  at  least  as  far 
south  as  Florida  and  the  Mississippi  territory,  the  Summer 
Duck  is  known  to  breed.  In  the  interior  they  are  also 
found  in  the  state  of  Missouri,  and  along  the  woody  borders 
and  still  streams  which  flow  into  most  of  the  great  north- 
western lakes  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  Summer  Duck,  so 
called  from  its  constant  residence  in  the  United  States,  has 
indeed  but  little  predilection  for  the  sea-coast,  its  favourite 
haunts  being  the  solitary,  deep,  and  still  waters,  ponds, 
woody  lakes,  and  the  mill-dams  in  the  interior,  making  its 
nest  often  in  decayed  and  hollow  trees  impending  over  the 
water. 

Though  many  migrate  probably  to  the  shores  of  the 
Mexican  Gulf,  numbers  pass  the  winter  in  the  states  south 
of  Virginia.  Early  in  February  they  are  seen  associated 
by  pairs  on  the  inundated  banks  of  the  Alabama,  and  are 
frequent  at  the  same  season  in  the  waters  of  West  Florida. 
In  Pennsylvania  they  usually  nest  late  in  April  or  early  in 
May,  choosing  the  hollow  of  some  broken  or  decayed  tree, 
and  sometimes  even  constructing  a rude  nest  of  sticks  in  the 
forks  of  branches.  The  eggs,  twelve  or  thirteen,  are  yellow- 
ish-white, rather  less  than  those  of  the  domestic  hen,  and 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


133 


they  are  usually  covered  with  down,  probably  plucked  from 
the  breast  of  the  parent.  The  same  tree  is  sometimes 
occupied,  by  the  same  pair,  for  several  successive  years,  in 
the  breeding  season.  The  young,  when  hatched,  are  carried 
down  in  the  bill  of  the  female,  and  afterwards  conducted  by 
her  to  the  nearest  water.  To  these  places,  when  once 
selected,  if  not  disturbed,  they  sometimes  show  a strong 
predilection,  and  are  not  easily  induced  to  forsake  the 
premises,  however  invaded  by  noise  and  bustle.  While  the 
female  is  sitting,  the  male  is  usually  perched  on  some 
adjoining  limb  of  the  same  tree,  keeping  watch  for  their 
common  safety.  The  species  is  scarcely  ever  gregarious, 
they  are  only  seen  in  pairs  or  by  families.  The  common 
note  of  the  drake  is  peet,  peet ; but  when  on  his  post  as 
sentinel,  on  espying  danger,  he  makes  a sort  of  crowing 
noise,  like  ’hoo  eek , yhoo  eeh. 

The  food  of  the  Wood  Duck  consists  principally  of  acorns, 
the  seeds  of  aquatic  plants,  such  as  the  Wild  Oat,  Ruppia , 
&c.,  and  insects,  which  inhabit  in  or  near  waters;  and  I 
have  seen  a fine  male  whose  stomach  was  wholly  filled  with 
a mass  of  the  small  coleoptera,  called  Donatias , which  are 
seen  so  nimbly  flying  over  or  resting  on  the  leaves  of  the 
pond  lily ; they  are  therefore  very  alert  in  quest  of  their 
prey,  or  they  could  never  capture  these  wary  insects.  They 
are  not  uncommon  in  the  markets  of  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
States,  and  are  justly  esteemed  as  food. 

The  Wood  Duck  has  sometimes  been  tamed,  and  soon 


134 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


becomes  familiar.  They  have  even  been  so  far  domesticated 
as  to  run  about  at  large  in  the  barn-yard  like  ordinary  fowls. 
In  France  they  have  also  been  acclimated  and  tamed,  and 
have  bred  in  this  condition. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

The  Summer  Duck  is  equally  well  known  in  Mexico  and 
many  of  the  West  India  islands.  During  the  whole  of  our 
winters,  they  are  occasionally  seen  in  the  states  south  of 
the  Potomac.  On  the  10th  of  January  (says  Wilson),  I 
met  with  two  on  a creek  near  Petersburgh,  in  Virginia.  In 
the  more  northern  districts,  however,  they  are  migratory. 
In  Pennsylvania,  the  female  usually  begins  to  lay  late  m 
April  or  early  in  May.  Instances  have  been  known  where 
the  nest  was  constructed  of  a few  sticks  laid  in  a fork  of 
the  branches ; usually,  however,  the  inside  of  a hollow  tree 
is  selected  for  this  purpose. 

On  the  18th  of  May  I visited  a tree  containing  the  nest 
of  a Summer  Duck,  on  the  banks  of  Tuckahoe  river,  New 
J ersey.  It  was  an  old,  grotesque  white  oak,  whose  top  had 
been  torn  off  by  a storm.  It  stood  on  the  declivity  of  the 
bank,  about  twenty  yards  from  the  water.  In  this  hollow 
and  broken  top,  and  about  six  feet  down,  on  the  soft,  de- 
cayed wood,  lay  thirteen  eggs,  snugly  covered  with  down, 
doubtless  taken  from  the  breast  of  the  bird.  These  eggs 
were  of  an  exact  oval  shape,  less  than  those  of  a hen,  the 
surface  exceedingly  fine  grained,  and  of  the  highest  polish, 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


135 


and  slightly  yellowish,  greatly  resembling  old,  polished 
ivory.  The  egg  measured  two  inches  and  an  eighth  by  one 
inch  and  a half.  On  breaking  one  of  them,  the  young  bird 
was  found  to  be  nearly  hatched,  but  dead,  as  neither  of  the 
parents  had  been  observed  about  the  tree  during  the  three 
or  four  days  preceding,  and  were  conjectured  to  have  been 
shot. 

This  tree  had  been  occupied,  probably  by  the  same  pair, 
for  four  successive  years,  in  breeding  time ; the  person  who 
gave  me  the  information,  and  whose  house  was  within 
twenty  or  thirty  yards  of  the  tree,  said  that  he  had  seen 
the  female,  the  spring  preceding,  carry  down  thirteen  young, 
one  by  one,  in  less  than  ten  minutes.  She  caught  them  in 
her  bill  by  the  wing  or  back  of  the  neck,  and  landed  them 
safely  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  whence  she  afterwards  led 
them  to  the  water. 

Under  this  same  tree,  at  the  time  I visited  it,  a large 
sloop  lay  on  the  stocks,  nearly  finished ; the  deck  was  not 
more  than  twelve  feet  distant  from  the  nest,  yet  notwith- 
standing the  presence  and  noise  of  the  workmen,  the  Ducks 
would  not  abandon  their  old  breeding  place,  but  continued 
to  pass  out  and  in,  as  if  no  person  had  been  near.  The 
male  usually  perched  on  an  adjoining  limb,  and  kept  watch 
while  the  female  was  laying,  and  also  often  while  she  was 
sitting.  A tame  goose  had  chosen  a hollow  space  at  the 
root  of  the  same  tree,  to  lay  and  hatch  her  young  in. 


136 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


The  Summer  Duck  seldom  flies  in  flocks  of  more  than 
three  or  four  individuals  together,  and  most  commonly  in 
pairs,  or  singly.  Their  flesh  is  inferior  to  that  of  the  blue- 
winged  teal.  They  are  frequent  in  the  markets  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

Among  other  gaudy  feathers  with  which  the  Indians 
ornament  the  calumet  or  pipe  of  peace,  the  skin  of  the  head 
and  neck  of  the  Summer  Duck  is  frequently  seen  covering 
the  stem. 

This  beautiful  bird  has  often  been  tamed,  and  soon 
becomes  so  familiar  as  to  permit  one  to  stroke  its  back  with 
the  hand.  I have  seen  individuals  so  tamed,  in  various 
parts  of  the  Union.  Captain  Boyer,  collector  of  the  port 
of  Ilavre-de-Grace,  informs  me,  that,  about  forty  years  ago, 
a Mr.  Nathan  Nicols,  who  lived  on  the  west  side  of  Gun- 
powder Creek,  had  a whole  yard  swarming  with  Summer 
Ducks,  which  he  had  tamed  and  completely  domesticated, 
so  that  they  bred  and  were  as  familiar  as  any  other  tame 
fowls ; that  he  (Captain  Boyer)  himself  saw  them  in  that 
state,  but  does  not  know  what  became  of  them.  Latham 
says,  that  they  are  often  kept  in  European  menageries,  and 
wiU  breed  there. 


HE  COMMON  DUCK. 


13T 


THE  COMMON  DUCK,  or  MALLARD.  (Anas 
domestica.') 

The  Mallard,  or  original  of  our  domestic  Duck,  like  so 
many  other  species  (says  Mr.  Nuttall)  is  common  to  most 
parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  As  a bird  of  passage/ 
in  spring  and  autumn,  it  is  seen  in  every  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  indeed  inhabits  more  or  less  the  whole  continent, 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  68th  parallel  in  the  fur 
countries  of  the  Canadian  wilderness.  In  Europe  it  is  met 
with  everywhere,  up  to  the  dreary  climates  of  Greenland, 
where  many  even  pass  the  greater  part  of  the  winter. 
They  breed  in  the  inland  woody  districts  of  the  fur  countries, 
and  more  or  less  through  all  the  intermediate  space  as  far 
south  as  Pennsylvania.  In  England  also,  as  well  as  in 
Sweden,  Denmark,  Germany,  and  all  parts  of  the  vast  domi- 
nions of  Russia,  no  less  than  Arctic  Europe,  and  the 
Aleutian  Islands  in  the  north  Pacific,  the  Wild  Duck  is 
known  to  breed.  They  nest  commonly  on  the  borders  of 
rivers  and  lakes,  sometimes  at  a considerable  distance  from 
water,  amongst  reeds,  grass,  or  in  fields  and  copses,  accord- 
ing to  the  convenience  of  the  locality,  and  occasionally  even 
upon  trees  impending  over  waters.  For  its  nest  it  scrapes 
together  a small  quantity  of  such  dry  weeds  as  happen  to 
be  contiguous,  and  lays  from  ten  to  eighteen  eggs  of  a 
bluish-white.  At  the  time  of  incubation,  the  female  plucks 
9 


138 


THE  COMMON  DUCK. 


the  down  from  her  breast  to  line  the  nest,  and  frequently 
covers  the  eggs  when  she  leaves  them. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

The  Duck,  like  other  birds  whose  young  ones  run  as  soon 
as  they  are  hatched,  generally  deposits  her  eggs  on  the 
ground ; hut  there  are  some  exceptions  to  this  rule.  Mr. 
Selby  says : “ Such  an  instance  once  occurred  within  my 
knowledge,  and  near  my  own  residence,  where  a Wild  Duck 
laid  her  eggs  in  the  old  nest  of  a crow,  at  least  thirty  feet 
from  the  ground.  At  this  elevation  she  hatched  her  young ; 
and  as  none  of  them  were  found  dead  beneath  the  tree,  it 
is  presumed  she  carried  them  safely  to  the  ground  in  her 
bill,  a mode  of  conveyance  known  to  be  frequently  adopted 
by  the  Eider  Duck.”  Montagu  says,  u We  have  been  assured 
by  a person  of  undoubted  veracity  that  a half  domesticated 
Duck  made  a nest  in  Rumford  Tower,  hatched  her  young, 
and  brought  them  down  in  safety  to  a piece  of  water  at  a 
considerable  distance.  Others  have  been  known  to  breed 
in  trees ; and  we  recollect  the  nest  of  this  bird  being  found 
in  the  head  of  an  old  pollard  willow,  impending  the  water, 
from  whence  the  young  might  readily  drop  unhurt  into  their 
natural  element.  Mr.  Tunstall  mentions  one,  at  Etching* 
ham,  in  Sussex,  which  was  found  sitting  upon  nine  eggs, 
on  an  oak-tree,  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground : and  the 
author  of  the  ( Rural  Sports*  records  an  instance  of  one 
taking  possession  of  the  nest  of  a hawk  in  a large  oak.  To 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  BUCK. 


139 


these  we  can  add,  upon  the  testimony  of  a gentleman  of  the 
strictest  veracity,  that  out  of  a large  flock  of  half-domesti- 
cated Ducks,  one  deposited  her  eggs  in  the  principal  fork 
of  a large  tree  near  his  house.  Eggs,  ten  to  fourteen,  of  a 
bluish-white ; the  female,  when  she  quits  the  nest  for  food, 
covers  them  with  down  and  other  substances. 


THE  CANYASS-BACK  DUCK.  {Anas  valismeria .) 

This  celebrated  American  species  (says  Mr.  Wilson),  as 
far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  best  figures  and  descriptions 
of  foreign  birds,  is  altogether  unknown  in  Europe.  It 
approaches  nearest  to  the  pochard  of  England,  but  differs 
from  that  bird  in  being  superior  in  size  and  weight,  in  the 
greater  magnitude  of  its  bill,  and  the  general  whiteness  of 
its  plumage.  A short  comparison  of  the  two  will  elucidate 
this  point : The  Canvass-Back  measures  two  feet  in  length 
by  three  feet  in  extent,  and,  when  in  the  best  order,  weighs 
three  pounds  and  upwards.  The  pochard,  according  to 
Latham  and  Bewick,  measures  nineteen  inches  in  length, 
and  thirty  in  extent,  and  weighs  one  pound  twelve  or  thirteen 
ounces.  The  latter  writer  says  of  the  pochard,  “ The  plu- 
mage, above  and  below,  is  wholly  covered  with  prettily- 
freckled,  slender,  dusky  threads,  disposed  transversely  in 


140 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  DUCK. 


close-set,  zigzag  lines,  on  a pale  ground,  more  or  less  shaded 
off  with  ash,” — a description  much  more  applicable  to  the 
red-head,  which,  very  probably,  is  the  species  meant. 

In  the  figure  of  the  pochard  given  by  Mr.  Bewick,  who 
is  generally  correct,  the  bill  agrees  very  well  with  that  of 
our  red-head ; but  is  scarcely  half  the  size  and  thickness 
of  that  of  the  Canvass-Back  ; and  the  figure  in  the  Planches 
Enluminees  corresponds,  in  that  respect,  with  Bewick's. 
In  short,  either  these  writers  are  egregiously  erroneous  in 
their  figures  and  descriptions,  or  the  present  Duck  was 
altogether  unknown  to  them.  Considering  the  latter  sup- 
position the  more  probable  of  the  two,  I have  designated 
this  as  a new  species,  and  shall  proceed  to  detail  some  par- 
ticulars of  its  history. 

The  Canvass-Back  Duck  arrives  in  the  United  States 
from  the  north  about  the  middle  of  October ; a few  descend 
to  the  Hudson  and  Delaware,  but  the  great  body  of  these 
birds  resort  to  the  numerous  rivers  belonging  to  and  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  particularly  the  Sus- 
quehanna, the  Patapsco,  Potomac,  and  James  rivers,  which 
appear  to  be  their  general  winter  rendezvous.  Beyond  this, 
to  the  south,  I can  find  no  certain  accounts  of  them.  At 
the  Susquehanna,  they  are  called  Canvass-Backs ; on  the 
Potomac,  White-Backs;  and  on  James  river,  Sheldrakes. 
They  are  seldom  found  at  a great  distance  up  any  of 
these  rivers,  or  even  in  the  salt-water  bay;  but  in  that 
particular  part  of  tide  water  where  a certain  grass-like  plant 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  DUCK. 


141 


grows,  on  the  roots  of  which  they  feed.  This  plant,  which 
is  said  to  he  a species  of  valisineridj  grows  on  fresh-water 
shoals  of  from  seven  to  nine  feet  (but  never  where  these 
are  occasionally  dry),  in  long,  narrow,  grass-like  blades,  of 
four  or  five  feet  in  length ; the  root  is  white,  and  has  some 
resemblance  to  small  celery.  This  grass  is  in  many  places 
so  thick  that  a boat  can  with  difficulty  be  rowed  through  it, 
it  so  impedes  the  oars.  The  shores  are  lined  with  large 
quantities  of  it,  torn  up  by  the  Ducks,  and  drifted  up  by 
the  winds,  lying,  like  hay,  in  windrows. 

Wherever  this  plant  grows  in  abundance,  the  Canvass- 
Baeks  may  be  expected,  either  to  pay  occasional  visits,  or 
to  make  it  their  regular  residence  during  the  winter.  It 
occurs  in  some  parts  of  the  Hudson ; in  the  Delaware,  near 
Gloucester,  a few  miles  below  Philadelphia;  and  in  most 
of  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the  Chesapeake,  to  each  of  which 
particular  places  these  Ducks  resort;  while,  in  waters 
unprovided  with  this  nutritive  plant,  they  are  altogether 
unknown. 

On  the  first  arrival  of  these  birds  in  the  Susquehanna, 
near  Havre-de-Grace,  they  are  generally  lean ; but  such  is 
the  abundance  of  their  favourite  food  that,  towards  the 
beginning  of  November,  they  are  in  pretty  good  order. 
They  are  excellent  divers,  and  swim  with  great  speed  and 
agility.  They  sometimes  assemble  in  such  multitudes  as 
to  cover  several  acres  of  the  river,  and  when  they  rise  sud- 
denly, produce  a noise  resembling  thunder.  They  float 


142 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  DUCK* 


about  these  shoals,  diving,  and  tearing  up  the  grass  by  the 
roots,  which  is  the  only  part  they  eat.  They  are  extremely 
shy,  and  can  rarely  be  approached,  unless  by  stratagem. 
When  wounded  in  the  wing,  they  dive  to  such  prodigious 
distances,  and  with  such  rapidity,  continuing  it  so  perse- 
veringly,  and  with  such  cunning  and  active  vigour,  as 
almost  always  to  render  the  pursuit  hopeless. 

From  the  great  demand  for  these  Ducks,  and  the  high 
price  they  uniformly  bring  in  market,  various  modes  are 
practised  to  get  within  gunshot  of  them.  The  most  suc- 
cessful way  is  said  to  be  decoying  them  to  the  shore  by 
means  of  a dog,  while  the  gunner  lies  closely  concealed  in 
a proper  situation.  The  dog,  if  properly  trained,  plays 
backwards  and  forwards  along  the  margin  of  the  water ; and 
the  Ducks,  observing  his  manoeuvres,  enticed  perhaps  by 
curiosity,  gradually  approach  the  shore,  until  they  are  some- 
times within  twenty  or  thirty  yards  of  the  spot  where  the 
gunner  lies  concealed,  and  from  which  he  rakes  them,  first 
on  the  water,  and  then  as  they  rise.  This  method  is  called 
tolling  them  in.  If  the  Ducks  seem  difficult  to  decoy,  any 
glaring  object,  such  as  a red  handkerchief,  is  fixed  round 
the  dog’s  middle,  or  to  his  tail;  and  this  rarely  fails  to 
attract  them.  Sometimes,  by  moonlight,  the  sportsman 
directs  his  skiff  towards  a flock  whose  position  he  had  pre- 
viously ascertained,  keeping  within  the  projecting  shadow 
of  some  wood,  bank,  or  headland,  and  paddles  along  so 
silently  and  imperceptibly  as  often  to  approach  within  fifteen 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  BUCK.  143 

or  twenty  yards  of  a flock  of  many  thousands,  among  whom 
he  generally  makes  great  slaughter. 

Many  other  stratagems  are  practised,  and,  indeed,  every 
plan  that  the  ingenuity  of  the  experienced  sportsman  can 
suggest,  to  approach  within  gunshot  of  these  birds ; but,  of 
all  the  modes  pursued,  none  intimidate  them  so  much  as 
shooting  them  by  night ; and  they  soon  abandon  the  place 
where  they  have  been  thus  repeatedly  shot  at.  During  the 
day,  they  are  dispersed  about ; but  towards  evening,  collect 
in  large  flocks,  and  come  into  the  mouths  of  creeks,  where 
they  often  ride  as  at  anchor,  with  their  head  under  their 
wing,  asleep,  there  being  always  sentinels  awake,  ready  to 
raise  an  alarm  on  the  least  appearance  of  danger.  Even 
when  feeding  and  diving  in  small  parties,  the  whole  never 
go  down  at  one  time,  but  some  are  still  left  above  on  the 
look-out. 

When  the  winter  sets  in  severely,  and  the  river  is  frozen, 
the  Canvass-Backs  retreat  to  its  confluence  with  the  bay, 
occasionally  frequenting  air-holes  in  the  ice,  which  are  some- 
times made  for  the  purpose,  immediately  above  their  favour- 
ite grass,  to  entice  them  within  gunshot  of  the  hut  or  bush 
which  is  usually  fixed  at  a proper  distance,  and  where  the 
gunner  lies  concealed,  ready  to  take  advantage  of  their 
distress. 

A Mr.  Hill,  who  lives  near  J ames  river,  at  a place  called 
Herring  Creek,  informs  me,  that,  one  severe  winter,  he  and 
another  person  broke  a hole  in  the  ice,  about  twenty  by 


144 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  DUCK. 


forty  feet,  immediately  over  a shoal  of  grass,  and  took  their 
stand  on  the  shore  in  a hut  of  brush,  each  having  three 
guns  well  loaded  with  large  shot.  The  Ducks,  which  were 
flying  up  and  down  the  river,  in  great  extremity,  soon 
crowded  to  this  place,  so  that  the  whole  open  space  was  not 
only  covered  with  them,  but  vast  numbers  stood  on  the  ice 
around  it.  They  had  three  rounds,  firing  both  at  once,  and 
picked  up  eighty-eight  Canvass-Backs,  and  might  have  col- 
lected more,  had  they  been  able  to  get  to  the  extremity  of 
the  ice  after  the  wounded  ones. 

In  the  severe  winter  of  1779-80,  the  grass,  on  the  roots 
of  which  these  birds  feed,  was  almost  wholly  destroyed  in 
James  river.  In  the  month  of  January,  the  wind  continued 
to  blow  from  W.  N.  W.  for  twenty-one  days,  which  caused 
such  low  tides  in  the  river,  that  the  grass  froze  to  the  ice 
everywhere;  and,  a thaw  coming  on  suddenly,  the  whole 
was  raised  by  the  roots,  and  carried  off  by  the  freshet.  The 
next  winter,  a few  of  these  Ducks  were  seen,  but  they  soon 
went  away  again ; and,  for  many  years  after,  they  continued 
to  be  scarce;  and,  even  to  the  present  day,  in  the  opinion 
of  my  informant,  have  never  been  so  plenty  as  before. 

The  Canvass-Back,  in  the  rich  juicy  tenderness  of  its 
flesh,  and  its  delicacy  of  flavour,  stands  unrivalled  by  the 
whole  of  its  tribe  in  this  or  perhaps  in  any  other  quarter 
of  the  world.  Those  killed  in  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake 
are  generally  esteemed  superior  to  all  others  doubtless  from 
the  great  abundance  of  their  favourite  food  which  these 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  DUCK. 


145 


rivers  produce.  At  our  public  dinners,  hotels,  and  parti- 
cular entertainments,  the  Canvass-Backs  are  universal 
favourites.  They  not  only  grace  but  dignify  the  table,  and 
their  very  name  conveys  to  the  imagination  of  the  eager 
epicure  the  most  comfortable  and  exhilarating  ideas.  Hence, 
on  such  occasions,  it  has  not  been  uncommon  to  pay  from 
one  to  three  dollars  a pair  for  these  Ducks ; and,  indeed,  at 
such  times,  if  they  can,  they  must  be  had,  whatever  may  be 
the  price. 

The  Canvass-Back  will  feed  readily  on  grain,  especially 
wheat,  and  may  be  decoyed  to  particular  places  by  baiting 
them  with  that  grain  for  several  successive  days.  Some  few 
years  since,  a vessel  loaded  with  wheat  was  wrecked  near 
the  entrance  of  Great  Egg  Harbor,  in  the  autumn,  and  went 
to  pieces.  The  wheat  floated  out  in  vast  quantities,  and  the 
whole  surface  of  the  bay  was  in  a few  days  covered  with  Ducks 
of  a kind  altogether  unknown  to  the  people  of  that  quarter. 
The  gunners  of  the  neighbourhood  collected  in  boats,  in  every 
direction,  shooting  them ; and  so  successful  were  they,  that, 
as  Mr.  Beaseley  informs  me,  two  hundred  and  forty  were 
killed  in  one  day,  and  sold  among  the  neighbours,  at  twelve 
and  a half  cents  apiece,  without  the  feathers.  The  wounded 
ones  were  generally  abandoned,  as  being  too  difficult  to 
be  come  up  with.  They  continued  about  for  three  weeks, 
and  during  the  greater  part  of  that  time  a continual  can- 
nonading was  heard  from  every  quarter.  The  gunners 
called  them  Sea  Ducks.  They  were  all  Canvass-Backs,  at 


146 


THE  CANYASS-BACK  DUCK. 


that  time  on  their  way  from  the  north,  when  this  floating  feast 
attracted  their  attention,  and  for  a while  arrested  them  in 
their  course.  A pair  of  these  very  Ducks  I myself  bought 
in  Philadelphia  market  at  the  time,  from  an  Egg  Harbor 
gunner,  and  never  met  with  their  superior,  either  in  weight 
or  excellence  of  flesh.  When  it  was  known  among  those 
people  the  loss  they  had  sustained  in  selling  for  twenty-five 
cents  what  would  have  brought  them  from  a dollar  to  a 
dollar  and  a half  per  pair,  universal  surprise  and  regret  were 
naturally  enough  excited. 

The  Canvass-Back  is  two  feet  long,  and  three  feet  in 
extent,  and,  when  in  good  order,  weighs  three  pounds ; the 
bill  is  large,  rising  high  in  the  head,  three  inches  in  length, 
and  one  inch  and  three-eighths  thick  at  the  base,  of  a glossy 
black ; eye,  very  small ; irides,  dark  red ; cheeks  and  fore  part 
of  the  head,  blackish-brown ; rest  of  the  head  and  greater 
part  of  the  neck,  bright  glossy  reddish  chestnut,  ending  in  a 
broad  space  of  black  that  covers  the  upper  part  of  the  breast, 
and  spreads  round  to  the  back;  back,  scapulars,  and  ter- 
tials,  white,  faintly  marked  with  an  infinite  number,  of 
transverse,  waving  lines  or  points,  as  if  done  with  a pencil ; 
whole  lower  parts  of  the  breast,  also  the  belly,  white, 
slightly  pencilled  in  the  same  manner,  scarcely  perceptible 
on  the  breast,  pretty  thick  towards  the  vent;  wing-coverts, 
gray,  with  numerous  specks  of  blackish;  primaries  and 
secondaries,  pale  slate,  two  or  three  of  the  latter  of  which 
nearest  the  body  are  finely  edged  with  deep  velvety  black, 


THE  CANVASS-BACK  DUCK. 


147 


the  former  dusky  at  the  tips ; tail,  very  short,  pointed,  con- 
sisting of  fourteen  feathers  of  a hoary  brown ; vent  and  tail- 
coverts,  black ; lining  of  the  wing,  white ; legs  and  feet, 
very  pale  ash,  the  latter  three  inches  in  width — a circum- 
stance which  partly  accounts  for  its  great  powers  of  swim- 
ming. 

The  female  is  somewhat  less  than  the  male,  and  weighs 
two  pounds  and  three-quarters;  the  crown  is  blackish- 
brown  ; cheeks  and  throat,  of  a pale  drab ; neck,  dull 
brown ; breast,  as  far  as  the  black  extends  on  the  male, 
dull  brown,  skirted  in  places  with  pale  drab ; back,  dusky 
white,  crossed  with  fine  waving  lines;  belly,  of  the  same 
dull  white,  pencilled  like  the  back;  wings,  feet,  and  bill, 
as  in  the  male;  tail-coverts,  dusky;  vent,  white,  waved 
with  brown. 

The  windpipe  of  the  male  has  a large,  flattish,  concave 
labyrinth,  the  ridge  of  which  is  covered  with  a thin,  trans- 
parent membrane ; where  the  trachea  enters  this,  it  is  very 
narrow,  but  immediately  above  swells  to  three  times  that 
diameter.  The  intestines  are  wide,  and  measure  five  feet  in 
length. 


148 


THE  PELICAN. 


THE  PELICAN.  ( Pelecanus  onocrotalus.') 

The  White  or  Great  Pelican,  or  Pelecan,  resembles  the 
swan  in  shape  and  colour,  but  exceeds  it  in  size.  The 
singularity,  however,  which  distinguishes  it  from  all  other 
birds,  is  in  the  bill  and  the  great  pouch  underneath,  which 
merit  a particular  description. 

The  bill  of  this  bird  is  about  sixteen  inches  long,  from 
the  point  to  the  opening  of  the  mouth,  which  is  a good  way 
behind  the  eyes.  It  is  very  thick  at  the  base,  where  it  is 
of  a greenish  tint,  but  tapers  off  towards  the  end,  which 
curves  downward,  and  is  of  a reddish  blue.  At  the  lower 
edge  of  the  under  chap  hangs  a pouch,  capable  of  containing 
fifteen  quarts  of  water,  and  reaching  the  whole  length  of 
the  bill  to  the  neck : this  bag  is  covered  with  a very  soft 
and  smooth  down,  and,  when  empty,  is  scarcely  perceptible ; 
as  the  bird  has  the  power  of  wrinkling  it  up  into  the  lower 
jaw.  This  bird  was  formerly  known  in  Europe,  par- 
ticularly in  Eussia ; but  at  present  it  is  only  found  in  Africa 
and  America. 

The  Pelican  has  strong  wings,  furnished  with  thick 
plumage  of  an  ash-colour,  as  are  the  rest  of  the  feathers 
over  the  whole  body.  The  large  legs  are  lead-coloured,  and 
the  claws  gray.  The  number  of  toes  is  four,  and  these  are  all 
webbed  together.  The  eyes  are  very  small,  when  compared 
with  the  size  of  the  head,  and  there  is  something  in  the 
countenance  very  sad  and  melancholy. 


THE  PELICAN. 


149 


These  birds  are  torpid  and  inactive  to  the  last  degree,  so 
that  nothing  can  exceed  their  indolence  but  their  gluttony; 
for  were  they  not  excited  to  labour  by  the  stimulus  of 
hunger,  they  would  always  continue  in  fixed  repose.  They 
will  often  sit  for  whole  days  and  nights  on  rocks  and  branches 
of  trees,  motionless,  and  in  a melancholy  posture,  till  the 
cravings  of  the  stomach  compel  them  to  seek  for  food. 
When  they  have  raised  themselves  about  thirty  or  forty 
feet  above  the  surface  of  the  sea,  they  turn  their  head  with 
one  eye  downward,  and  continue  to  fly  in  that  posture.  As 
soon  as  they  perceive  a fish  sufficiently  near  the  surface, 
they  dart  down  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow,  seize  it  with 
unerring  certainty,  and  store  it  up  in  their  pouch  : they 
then  rise  again,  and  continue  hovering  and  fishing,  till  their 
bag  is  filled ; when  they  retire  to  land,  and  greedily  devour 
the  fruits  of  their  industry.  They  then  sink  to  sleep, 
and  remain  inert  till  again  obliged  to  provide  for  their  sub- 
sistence. 

The  same  habits  of  indolence  seem  to  attend  the  Pelican 
in  every  situation ; for  the  female  does  not  prepare  for  the 
duties  of  incubation,  but  drops  her  eggs  on  the  bare  ground, 
to  the  number  of  five  or  six,  and  there  contrives  to  hatch 
them.  It  is  a mere  poetical  fiction  that  the  Pelican  feeds 
her  young  with  blood  from  her  own  breast.  Her  little 
progeny,  however,  seem  to  call  forth  some  maternal  affec- 
tions ; for  its  young  have  been  taken  and  tied  by  the  leg  to 


150 


THE  PELICAN. 


a post,  and  the  parent  bird  has  been  observed  for  several 
days  to  come  and  feed  them;  remaining  with  them  the 
greatest  part  of  the  day,  and  spending  the  night  on  the 
branch  of  a tree  that  hung  over  them.  By  these  means 
they  became  so  familiar  that  they  suffered  themselves  to  be 
handled ; and  they  very  readily  accepted  whatever  fish  was 
given  to  them.  These  they  always  put  first  into  their  pouch, 
and  then  swallowed  them  at  leisure. 

Notwithstanding  their  natural  indolence  and  stupidity, 
these  birds  appear  to  be  susceptible  of  instruction  in  a domestic 
state.  Some  of  them  have  been  known  to  go  off  at  the  word 
of  command,  and  return  to  their  owners  with  their  pouches 
distended  with  plunder. 

It  is  said  that,  when  the  Pelican  and  the  cormorant  fish 
in  company,  they  adopt  a singular  mode  of  catching  their 
prey.  They  form  a large  circle,  at  some  distance  from  the 
land,  and,  while  the  Pelicans  flap  their  wings  above,  the 
cormorants  dive  beneath.  The  fish  are  thus  driven  before 
the  birds,  who  lessen  the  circle  as  they  approach  the  land, 
and  thus  enclose  their  finny  spoil  within  a narrow  space,  so 
as  to  have  no  difficulty  in  seizing  on  a sufficient  number. 


THE  CORMORANT. 


151 


THE  CORMORANT.  ( Phalacrocorax  carbo.') 

The  Cormorant,  or  Corvorant,  weighs  about  seven  pounds, 
and  is  nearly  the  same  size  as  a goose.  The  head  and  neck 
are  of  a sooty  blackness,  and  the  body  is  thick  and  heavy, 
more  inclining  in  figure  to  that  of  the  goose  than  the  gull. 
Its  distinguished  character,  however,  consists  in  its  toes 
being  united  by  membranes,  and  by  the  middle  toe  being 
notched,  like  a saw,  to  assist  it  in  holding  its  fishy  prey. 

On  the  approach  of  winter,  these  birds  are  seen  dispersed 
along  the  sea-shore,  and  ascending  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
carrying  destruction  to  all  the  finny  tribe,  as  they  are 
remarkably  voracious,  and  have  such  a quick  digestion  that 
their  appetite  appears  completely  insatiable.  Their  intestines 
being  thronged  with  small  worms  may,  perhaps,  contribute 
to  their  insatiable  craving  for  food.  They  build  their  nests 
on  the  highest  parts  of  the  cliffs  that  overhang  the  sea ; and 
the  female  usually  lays  three  or  four  eggs  about  the  size  of 
those  of  the  goose,  and  of  a pale  green  colour. 

In  China  these  birds  are  bred  up  tame,  for  the  purposes 
of  fishing,  and  one  man  can  easily  manage  a hundred  of 
them.  When  a fisherman  intends  to  fish,  he  carries  them 
out  into  the  lake,  perched  on  the  gunnel  of  his  boat,  where 
they  continue  tranquil,  and  expect  his  orders  with  patience. 
When  arrived  at  the  proper  place,  each  flies  a different 
way,  on  a given  signal,  to  fulfil  the  task  assigned  it : and  it 
is  very  pleasant  on  this  occasion  to  behold  with  what 


152 


THE  GULL. 


sagacity  they  portion  out  the  lake  or  canal  where  they  are 
upon  duty.  They  hunt  about,  they  plunge,  they  rise  a 
hundred  times  to  the  surface,  until  they  have  at  last  found 
their  prey.  They  then  seize  it  with  their  beak  by  the 
middle,  and  carry  it  to  their  master.  When  weary  they 
are  suffered  to  rest  for  a while,  but  they  are  never  fed  till 
their  work  is  over.  In  this  manner  they  supply  a very 
plentiful  table ; but  still  their  natural  voracity  cannot  be 
restrained  even  by  education.  While  they  fish,  they  have 
always  a string  fastened  round  their  throats,  to  prevent 
them  from  devouring  their  prey ; as  otherwise  they  would 
soon  satiate  themselves,  and  then  discontinue  their  pursuit. 
Such  was  formerly  the  practice  in  England ; and  as  late  as 
the  reign  of  Charles  I.  there  was  an  officer  of  the  household 
who  bore  the  title  of  Master  of  the  Cormorants. 


THE  BLACK  AND  WHITE  GULL.  ( Larus  rnarinus .) 

Gulls  frequent  principally  the  northern  countries,  and 
do  not  dive  so  much  as  the  other  water  fowl ; they  chiefly 
subsisting  on  the  gregarious  fish  which  they  catch  near  the 
surface  of  the  water.  When  the  sea  is  rough,  they  come 
into  the  harbours,  and  feed  on  worms.  Occasionally  they 
will  even  eat  carrion.  They  fly  with  great  rapidity;  their 
body  being  light,  and  their  wings  long.  It  is  not  until  the 


THE  GULL.  153 

third  year  that  the  young  birds  acquire  the  same  colour  as 
the  old. 

The  Black  and  White  Gull  is  by  far  the  largest  of  all  the 
Gull  kind,  as  it  generally  weighs  upwards  of  four  pounds, 
and  is  twenty-five  or  twenty -six  inches  from  the  point  of 
the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail;  and  from  the  tip  of  each 
wing,  when  extended,  five  feet  and  several  inches.  The  bill 
appears  compressed  sideways,  being  more  than  three  inches 
long,  and  hooked  towards  the  end,  like  the  rest  of  this 
kind,  of  a sort  of  orange  colour;  the  nostrils  are  of  an 
oblong  form ; the  mouth  is  wide,  with  a long  tongue  and 
very  open  gullet.  The  irides  of  the  eyes  are  of  a very 
delightful  red.  The  wings  and  the  middle  of  the  back  are 
black,  only  the  tips  of  the  covert  and  quill-feathers  are 
white.  The  head,  breast,  tail,  and  other  parts  of  the  body 
are  likewise  white.  The  tail  is  near  six  inches  long,  the 
legs  and  feet  are  flesh-coloured,  and  the  claws  black.  There 
are  about  twenty  varieties  of  this  tribe,  which  are  all 
distinguished  by  an  angular  knob  on  the  chap. 

Gulls  are  found  in  great  plenty  in  every  place ; but  it  is 
chiefly  round  our  rockiest  shores,  that  they  are  seen  in  the 
greatest  abundance ; it  is  there  that  the  Gull  breeds  and 
brings  up  its  young ; it  is  there  that  millions  of  them  are 
heard  screaming  with  discordant  notes  for  months  together. 

These  birds,  like  all  others  of  the  rapacious  kind,  lay  but 
few  eggs ; and  hence,  in  many  places,  their  number  is  daily 
seen  to  diminish.  The  lessening  of  so  many  rapacious 


154 


THE  GREAT  TERN. 


birds  may,  at  first  sight,  appear  a benefit  to  mankind ; but 
when  we  consider  how  many  persons  are  sustained  by 
their  flesh,  either  fresh  or  salted,  we  shall  find  no  satis- 
faction in  thinking  that  these  poor  people  may  in  time 
lose  their  chief  support.  The  Gull  usually  builds  on  the 
ledges  of  rocks,  and  lays  from  one  egg  to  three,  in  a nest 
formed  of  long  grass  and  sea-weed.  It  defends  its  young 
with  great  intrepidity.  When  the  natives  of  the  Fero 
Islands  attempt  to  plunder  the  nest,  the  parent  birds 
attack  them  with  such  vehemence  that,  on  the  men  holding 
a knife  perpendicularly  above  their  own  heads,  the  Gulls  will 
sometimes  transfix  themselves  in  pouncing  on  the  invaders. 
Most  of  the  kind  are  fishy  tasted,  with  black  stringy  flesh ; 
yet  the  young  ones  are  better  food;  and  of  these,  with 
several  other  birds  of  the  penguin  kind,  the  poor  inhabitants 
of  the  Arctic  regions  make  their  wretched  banquets.  They 
have  been  long  used  to  no  other  food ; and  even  a salted 
Gull  can  be  relished  by  those  who  know  no  better. 


THE  GREAT  TERN.  {Sterna  hisundo .) 

This  bird  is  about  fourteen  inches  long,  and  weighs  four 
ounces  and  a quarter.  The  bill  and  feet  are  a fine  crimson, 
the  former  is  tipped  with  black,  and  very  slender.  The 
back  of  the  head  is  black ; the  upper  part  of  the  body  is  a 


THE  GALLINULE. 


155 


pale  gray,  and  the  under  part  white.  They  have  been 
called  Sea  Swallows,  from  appearing  to  have  all  the  same 
actions  at  sea  that  the  swallow  has  on  land,  seizing  every 
insect  which  appears  on  the  surface,  and  darting  down  upon 
the  smaller  fishes,  which  they  seize  with  incredible  rapidity. 

The  Lesser  Tern  weighs  only  two  ounces  five  grains. 
The  bill  is  yellow,  and  from  the  eyes  to  the  bill  is  a black 
line : in  other  respects  it  almost  exactly  resembles  the 
preceding. 

The  Black  Tern  is  of  a middle  size  between  the  two 
preceding  species.  It  weighs  two  ounces  and  a half.  It 
receives  its  name  from  being  all  black  as  far  as  the  vent, 
except  a white  spot  under  the  throat.  This  bird  is  called 
in  some  parts  the  Car  Swallow.  It  is  very  noisy. 

Among  the  birds  of  this  tribe,  one  of  the  most  singular 
is  the  Striated  Tern,  which  is  a native  of  New  Zealand. 
It  has  a black  bill,  and  the  body  is  in  general  mottled,  or 
rather  striped  with  black  and  white.  Its  length  is  about 
thirteen  inches. 


PUBPLE  GALLINULE.  {Gallinula porphyrio.') 

u This  bird,”  says  Latham,  “ is  more  or  less  common  in 
all  the  warmer  parts  of  the  globe.  On  the  coasts  of  Bar- 
bary they  abound,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the  islands  of  the 


156 


THE  GALLINULE. 


Mediterranean.  In  Sicily,  they  are  bred  in  plenty,  and 
kept  for  their  beauty;  but  whether  indigenous  there,  we 
are  not  certain.  It  is  frequently  met  with  in  various  parts 
of  the  south  of  Russia,  and  western  parts  of  Siberia,  among 
reedy  places ; and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Caspian  Sea 
not  uncommon ; but  in  the  cultivated  rice  grounds  of  Ghilan 
in  Persia,  in  great  plenty,  and  in  high  plumage.  The  female 
makes  her  nest  among  the  reeds,  in  the  middle  of  March ; 
lays  three  or  four  eggs,  and  sits  from  three  to  four  weeks. 
That  it  is  common  in  China,  the  paper-hangings  thence  will 
everywhere  testify.  It  is  also  met  with  in  the  East  Indies, 
the  islands  of  Java,  Madagascar,  and  many  others.  Our 
late  navigators  saw  them  at  Tongataboo  in  vast  numbers,  as 
well  as  the  islands  of  Tanna,  and  other  parts.  It  is  also 
common  in  the  southern  parts  of  America. 

u In  respect  to  its  manners,  it  is  a very  docile  bird,  being 
easily  tamed,  and  feeding  with  the  poultry,  scratching  the 
ground  with  the  foot,  as  the  cock  and  hen.  It  will  feed  on 
many  things,  such  as  fruits,  roots  of  plants,  and  grain ; but 
will  eat  fish  with  avidity,  dipping  them  into  the  water 
before  it  swallows  them ; will  frequently  stand  on  one  leg, 
and  lift  the  food  to  its  mouth  with  the  other,  like  a parrot. 
The  flesh  is  said  to  be  exquisite  in  taste.” 

“ The  moderns,”  says  Buffon,  u have  given  the  name  of 
Sultana  Hen  to  a bird  famous  among  the  ancients,  under 
the  name  of  Porphyrion.  We  have  frequently  had  occasion 
to  remark  the  justness  of  the  denominations  bestowed  by 


THE  GALLINULE. 


157 


the  Greeks,  which  generally  allude  to  the  distinctive  cha- 
racters, and  are  therefore  superior  to  the  terms  hastily 
adopted  in  our  languages,  from  superficial  or  inaccurate 
views.  The  present  is  an  instance ; as  this  bird  seemed  to 
bear  some  resemblance  to  the  gallinaceous  tribe,  it  got  the 
name  of  Hen ; but  as,  at  the  same  time,  it  differed  widely, 
and  excelled  by  its  beauty  and  port,  it  received  the  epithet 
of  Sultana.  But  the  term  Porphyrion,  indicating  the  red 
or  purple  tint  of  its  bill  and  feet,  was  more  just  and  cha- 
racteristic; and  should  we  not  rebuild  the  fine  ruins  of 
learned  antiquity,  and  restore  to  nature  those  brilliant 
images,  and  those  faithful  portraits  from  the  delicate  pen- 
cil of  the  Greeks,  ever  awake  to  her  beauties  and  her 
animation  ? 

“Both  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  notwithstanding  their 
voracious  luxury,  abstained  from  eating  the  Porphyrion. 
They  brought  it  from  Lybia,  from  Comagene,  and  from  the 
Balearic  Islands,  to  be  fed  and  to  be  placed  in  their  palaces 
and  temples,  where  it  was  left  at  liberty  as  a guest,  whose 
noble  aspect,  whose  gentle  disposition,  and  whose  elegant 
plumage,  merited  such  honours. 

“ Scarcely  any  bird  has  more  beautiful  colours ; the  blue 
of  its  plumage  is  soft  and  glossy,  embellished  with  brilliant 
reflections ; its  long  feet,  and  the  plate  from  the  top  of  its 
head  to  the  root  of  its  bill,  are  of  a fine  red ; and  a tuft  of 
white  feathers  under  the  tail  heightens  the  lustre  of  its 
charming  garb.  Except  that  it  is  rather  smaller,  the  female 


158 


THE  GALLINULE. 


differs  not  from  tlie  male,  which  exceeds  the  partridge,  hut 
is  inferior  to  a domestic  hen.  The  Marquis  de  Nesle 
brought  a pair  from  Sicily,  where  they  are  known  under 
the  name  of  G-allofagiani ; they  are  found  on  the  lake  Len- 
tini,  above  Catana,  and  are  sold  for  a moderate  price  in  that 
city,  as  well  as  in  Syracuse  and  the  adjacent  towns.  They 
appear  alive  in  the  public  places,  and  plant  themselves 
beside  the  sellers  of  vegetables  and  fruits  to  pick  up  the 
refuse ; and  this  beautiful  bird,  which  the  Romans  lodged 
in  their  temples,  now  experiences  the  decline  of  Italy.” 

The  length  of  the  Purple  Gallinule  is  fourteen  inches; 
its  bill  is  an  inch  and  a quarter  long,  red,  yellow  at  the 
tips;  nostril,  small,  oblong,  and  near  the' centre  of  the  bill; 
irides,  tawny;  the  naked  front  and  crown  are  red;  the 
head,  part  of  the  neck,  throat,  and  breast  are  of  a rich 
violet  purple ; the  back  and  scapulars,  brownish-green ; 
rump,  tail,  and  its  coverts,  of  a duller  brownish-green ; the 
sides  of  the  neck,  ultramarine ; wings,  the  same,  tinged  with 
green ; the  inner  webs  of  the  quill-feathers  and  tail,  dusky 
brown ; upper  lining  and  side  lining  of  the  wings,  under 
the  spurious  wing,  rich  light  blue ; the  belly,  thighs,  and 
for  an  inch  behind,  dull  purplish  black;  the  vent  pure 
white;  tail,  rounded;  thighs,  legs,  and  feet,  red;  span  of 

the  foot,  five  inches ; hind  toe  and  claws,  long. 

/ 


THE  LOON. 


159 


GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER,  OR  LOON. 

( Colymbus  glacialis .) 

This  bird  in  Pennsylvania  is  migratory.  In  the  autumn, 
it  makes  its  appearance  with  the  various  feathered  tribes 
that  frequent  our  waters ; and,  when  the  streams  are 
obstructed  with  ice,  it  departs  for  the  Southern  States.  In 
the  months  of  March  and  April,  it  is  again  seen,  and,  after 
lingering  a while,  it  leaves  us  for  the  purpose  of  breeding. 
The  Loons  are  found  along  the  coast,  as  well  as  in  the  inte- 
rior ; but  in  the  summer  they  retire  to  the  fresh-water  lakes 
and  ponds.  We  have  never  heard  that  they  breed  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  it  is  said  they  do  in  Missibisci  Pond,  near 
Boston,  Massachusetts.  The  female  lays  two  large  brown- 
ish eggs.  They  are  commonly  seen  in  pairs ; and  procure 
their  food,  which  is  fish,  in  the  deepest  water  of  our  rivers, 
diving  after  it,  and  continuing  under  for  a length  of  time. 
Being  a wary  bir$,  it  is  seldom  they  are  killed,  eluding 
their  pursuers  by  their  astonishing  faculty  of  diving.  They 
seem  averse  from  flying,  and  are  but  seldom  seen  on  the 
wing.  They  are  never  eaten. 

The  Loon  is  restless  before  a storm ; and  an  experienced 
master  of  a coasting-vessel  informed  me  that  he  always 
knew  when  a tempest  was  approaching  by  the  cry  of  this 
bird,  which  is  very  shrill,  and  may  be  heard  at  the  distance 
of  a mile  or  more. 


160 


THE  LOOK. 


This  species  seldom  visits  the  shores  of  Britain,  except  in 
very  severe  winters;  but  it  is  met  with  in  the  north  of 
Europe,  and  spreads  along  the  Arctic  coast  as  far  as  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Ob,  in  the  dominions  of  Russia.  It  is 
found  about  Spitzbergen,  Iceland,  and  Hudson’s  Bay. 
Makes  its  nest,  in  the  more  northern  regions,  on  the  little 
isles  of  fresh-water  lakes : every  pair  keep  a lake  to  them- 
selves. It  sees  well,  flies  very  high,  and,  darting  obliquely, 
falls  secure  into  its  nest.  Appears  in  Greenland  in  April, 
or  the  beginning  of  May,  and  goes  away  in  September,  or 
October,  on  the  first  fall  of  snow.  It  is  also  found  at 
Nootka  Sound,  and  Kamtschatka. 

The  Barabinzians  — a nation  situated  between  the  river 
Ob  and  the  Irtisch,  in  the  Russian  dominions  — tan  the 
breasts  of  this  and  other  water  fowl,  whose  skins  they  pre- 
pare in  such  a manner  as  to  preserve  the  down  upon  them ; 
and,  sewing  a number  of  these  together,  they  sell  them  to 
make  pelisses,  caps,  &c.  Garments  made  of  these  are  very 
warm,  never  imbibing  the  least  moisture,  and  are  more  last- 
ing than  could  be  imagined. 

The  natives  of  Greenland  use  the  skins  for  clothing,  and 
the  Indians  about  Hudson’s  Bay  adorn  their  heads  with 
circlets  of  their  feathers. 

Lewis  and  Clark’s  party,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
saw  robes  made  of  the  skins  of  Loons,  and  abundance  of 
these  birds,  during  the  time  that  they  wintered  at  Fort 
Clatsop,  on  that  river. 


THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL. 


161 


The  Laplanders,  according  to  Regnard,  cover  their  heads 
with  a cap  made  of  the  skin  of  a Loom  (Loon),  which  word 
signifies  in  their  language,  lame , because  the  bird  cannot 
walk  well.  They  place  it  on  their  head  in  such  a manner 
that  the  bird's  head  falls  over  their  brow,  and  its  wings 
cover  their  ears. 

“ Northern  Divers/'  says  Hearne,  u though  common  in 
Hudson's  Bay,  are  by  no  means  plentiful;  they  are  seldom 
found  near  the  coast,  but  more  frequently  in  fresh-water 
lakes,  and  usually  in  pairs.  They  build  their  nests  at  the 
edge  of  small  islands,  or  the  margins  of  lakes  or  ponds; 
they  lay  only  two  eggs ; and  it  is  very  common  to  find  only 
one  pair  and  their  young  in  one  sheet  of  water — a great 
proof  of  their  aversion  to  society.  They  are  known  in 
Hudson's  Bay  by  the  name  of  Loons." 

The  Great  Northern  Diver  measures  two  feet  ten  inches 
from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  and  four  feet 
six  inches  in  breadth. 


BLACK-HEADED  GULL.  (. Larus  ridibundus .) 

Length,  seventeen  inches ; extent,  three  feet  six  inches ; 
bill,  thighs,  legs,  feet,  sides  of  the  mouth,  and  eyelids,  dark 
blood  red ; inside  of  the  mouth,  vermilion ; bill,  nearly  two 


162 


THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL. 


inches  and  a half  long ; the  nostril  is  placed  rather  low ; 
the  eyes  are  black ; above  and  below  each  eye  there  is  a 
spot  of  white;  the  head  and  part  of  the  neck  are  black, 
remainder  of  the  neck,  breast,  whole  lower  parts,  tail- 
coverts,  and  tail,  pure  white;  the  scapulars,  wing-coverts, 
and  whole  upper  parts,  are  of  a fine  blue  ash  colour ; the 
first  five  primaries  are  black  towards  their  extremities ; the 
secondaries  are  tipped  largely  with  white,  and  almost  all 
the  primaries  slightly ; the  bend  of  the  wing  is  white,  and 
nearly  three  inches  long ; the  tail  is  almost  even ; it  con- 
sists of  twelve  feathers,  and  its  coverts  reach  within  an  inch 
and  a half  of  its  tip ; the  wings  extend  two  inches  beyond 
the  tail;  a delicate  blush  is  perceivable  on  the  breast  and 
belly. 

The  head  of  the  female  is  of  a dark  dusky  slate  colour; 
in  other  respects,  she  resembles  the  male. 

We  are  inclined  (says  Wilson)  to  the  opinion,  that  the 
three  Gulls  of  Latham,  viz.,  the  Black-headed  Gull,  the 
Red-legged  Gull,  and  the  Laughing  Gull,  are  one  and 
the  same  species,  the  very  bird  which  we  have  been 
describing,  the  difference  in  their  markings  arising  from 
their  age  and  sex.  We  feel  emboldened  to  this  declaration 
from  the  circumstance  of  having  ourselves  shot  Gulls  which 
corresponded  almost  precisely  to  those  of  the  above  author, 
of  the  same  habits,  the  same  voice,  and  which  were  found 
associating  together. 

In  some  individuals,  the  crown  is  of  a dusky  gray ; the 


THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL. 


163 


upper  part  and  sides  of  the  neck,  of  a lead  colour ; the  hill 
and  legs,  of  a dirty,  dark,  purplish  brown.  Others  have 
not  the  white  spots  above  and  below  the  eyes ; these  are 
young  birds. 

The  changes  of  plumage,  to  which  birds  of  this  genus  are 
subject,  have  tended  not  a little  to  confound  the  naturalist; 
and  a considerable  collision  of  opinion,  arising  from  an  im- 
perfect acquaintance  with  the  living  subjects,  has  been  the 
result.  To  investigate  thoroughly  their  history,  it  is  obvi- 
ously necessary  that  the  ornithologist  should  frequently 
explore  their  native  haunts ; and,  to  determine  the  species 
of  periodical  or  occasional  visiters,  an  accurate  comparative 
examination  of  many  specimens,  either  alive  or  recently 
killed,  is  indispensable.  Less  confusion  would  arise  among 
authors,  if  they  would  occasionally  abandon  their  accustomed 
walks — their  studies  and  their  museums,  and  seek  correct 
knowledge  in  the  only  place  where  it  is  to  be  obtained  — 
in  the  grand  temple  of  nature.  As  it  respects,  in  particular, 
the  tribe  under  review,  the  zealous  inquirer  would  find  him- 
self amply  compensated  for  all  his  toil,  by  observing  these 
neat  and  clean  birds  coursing  along  the  rivers  and  coast, 
enlivening  the  prospect  by  their  airy  movements,  now 
skimming  closely  over  the  watery  element,  watching  the 
motions  of  the  surges,  and  now  rising  into  the  higher 
regions,  sporting  with  the  winds, — while  he  inhaled  the 
invigorating  breezes  of  the  ocean,  and  listened  to  the  sooth- 
ing murmurs  of  its  billows. 


164  THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL. 


The  Black-headed  Gull  is  the  most  beautiful  and  most 
sociable  of  its  genus.  They  make  their  appearance  on  the 
coast  of  New  Jersey  in  the  latter  part  of  April;  and  do  not 
fail  to  give  notice  of  their  arrival  by  their  familiarity  and 
loquacity.  The  inhabitants  treat  them  with  the  same 
indifference  that  they  manifest  towards  all  those  harmless 
birds  which  do  not  minister  either  to  their  appetite  or  their 
avarice ; and  hence  the  Black-Heads  may  be  seen  in  com- 
panies around  the  farm-house,  coursing  along  the  river-shores, 
gleaning  up  the  refuse  of  the  fishermen,  and  the  animal 
substances  left  by  the  tide ; or  scattered  over  the  marshes 
and  newly-ploughed  fields,  regaling  on  the  worms,  insects, 
and  their  larvae,  which,  in  the  vernal  season,  the  bounty  of 
Nature  provides  for  the  sustenance  of  myriads  of  the 
feathered  race. 

On  the  Jersey  side  of  the  Delaware  Bay,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Fishing  Creek,  about  the  middle  of  May,  the 
Black-headed  Gulls  assemble  in  great  multitudes,  to  feed 
upon  the  remains  of  the  king-crabs  which  the  hogs  have  left, 
or  upon  the  spawn  which  those  curious  animals  deposit  in 
the  sand,  and  which  is  scattered  along  the  shore  by  the 
waves.  At  such  times,  if  any  one  approach  to  disturb  them, 
the  Gulls  will  rise  up  in  clouds,  every  individual  squalling 
so  loud,  that  the  roar  may  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  two 
or  three  miles. 

It  is  an  interesting  spectacle  to  behold  this  species  when 
about  recommencing  their  migrations.  If  the  weather  be 


THE  BLACK-HEADED  HULL. 


165 


calm,  they  will  rise  up  in  the  air,  spirally,  chattering  all  the 
while  to  each  other  in  the  most  sprightly  manner,  their 
notes  at  such  times  resembling  the  singing  of  a hen,  but  far 
louder,  changing  often  into  a haw , ha,  ha,  ha , haw!  the 
last  syllable  lengthened  out  like  the  excessive  laugh  of  a 
negro.  When  mounting  and  mingling  together,  like  motes 
in  the  sunbeams,  their  black  heads  and  wing-tips,  and  snow- 
white  plumage,  give  them  a very  beautiful  appearance. 
After  gaining  an  immense  height,  they  all  move  off,  with 
one  consent,  in  a direct  line  towards  the  point  of  their 
destination. 

This  bird  breeds  in  the  marshes.  The  eggs  are  three  in 
number,  of  a dun  clay  colour,  thinly  marked  with  small, 
irregular  touches  of  a pale  purple,  and  pale  brown ; some 
are  of  a deeper  dun,  with  larger  marks,  and  less  tapering 
than  others ; the  egg  measures  two  inches  and  a quarter  by 
one  inch  and  a half. 

The  Black-Heads  frequently  penetrate  into  the  interior, 
especially  as  far  as  Philadelphia;  but  they  seem  to  prefer 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  coast  for  the  purpose  of  breeding. 
They  retire  southward  early  in  autumn. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

This  species  is  found  in  every  part  of  Russia  and  Siberia, 
and  even  in  Kamtschatka.  They  are  seen  throughout  the 
winter  at  Aleppo,  in  great  numbers,  and  so  tame,  that  the 
women  are  said  to  call  them  from  the  terraces  of  their 


166 


THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL. 


houses,  throwing  up  pieces  of  bread,  which  these  birds  catch 
in  the  air. 

The  Black-headed  Gull  is  common  in  Great  Britain. 
u In  former  times, ” says  Bewick,  “ these  birds  were  looked 
upon  as  valuable  property,  by  the  owners  of  some  of  the 
fens  and  marshes  in  this  kingdom,  who,  every  autumn, 
caused  the  little  islets  or  hafts,  in  those  wastes,  to  be  cleared 
of  the  reeds  and  rushes,  in  order  properly  to  prepare  the 
spots  for  the  reception  of  the  old  birds  in  the  spring,  to 
which  places  at  that  season  they  regularly  returned  in  great 
flocks  to  breed.  The  young  ones  were  then  highly  esteemed, 
as  excellent  eating,  and  on  that  account  were  caught  in 
great  numbers,  before  they  were  able  to  fly.  Six  or  seven 
men,  equipped  for  this  business,  waded  through  the  pools, 
and  with  long  staves  drove  them  to  the  land,  against  nets 
placed  upon  the  shores  of  these  hafts,  where  they  were 
easily  caught  by  the  hand,  and  put  into  pens  ready  pre- 
pared for  their  reception.  The  gentry  assembled  from  all 
parts  to  see  the  sport. 

u Dr.  Plot,  in  his  Natural  History  of  Staffordshire,  pub- 
lished in  1686,  gives  the  above  particulars,  and  says  that 
in  this  manner  as  many  have  been  caught  in  one  morning 
as,  when  sold  at  five  shillings  per  dozen  (the  usual  price  at 
that  time),  produced  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds  ten  shil- 
lings ; and  that  in  the  several  drifts  on  the  few  succeeding 
days  of  this  sport,  they  have  been  taken  in  some  years  in 
such  abundance,  that  their  value,  according  to  the  above 


TIIE  EIDER  DUCK. 


167 


rate,  was  from  thirty  to  sixty  pounds — a great  sum  in  those 
days.  These  were  the  See  Guiles,  of  which  we  read  as 
being  so  plentifully  provided  at  the  great  feasts  of  the 
ancient  nobility  and  bishops  of  this  realm.  Although  the 
flesh  of  these  birds  is  not  now  esteemed  a dainty,  and  they 
are  seldom  sought  after  as  an  article  of  food,  yet  in  the 
breeding  season,  where  accommodation  and  protection  are 
afforded  them,  they  still  regularly  resort  to  the  same  old 
haunts,  which  have  been  occupied  by  their  kind  for  a long 
time  past.  This  is  the  case  with  the  flocks  which  now 
breed  at  Pallinsburne,  in  Northumberland,  where  they  are 
accounted  of  great  use  in  clearing  the  surrounding  lands  of 
noxious  insects,  worms,  slugs,  &c.” 


THE  EIDEK  DUCK.  ( Anas  mollissima.') 

The  Eider  Duck  has  been  long  celebrated  in  Europe,  for 
the  abundance  and  excellence  of  its  down,  which,  for  soft- 
ness, warmth,  lightness,  and  elasticity,  surpasses  that  of  all 
other  ducks.  The  quantity  found  in  one  nest  more  than 
filled  the  crown  of  a hat,  yet  weighed  no  more  than  three- 
quarters  of  an  ounce ; and  it  is  asserted,  that  three  pounds 
of  this  down  may  be  compressed  into  a space  scarce  bigger 
than  a man’s  fist,  yet  is  afterwards  so  dilatable  as  to  fill  a 
quilt  five  feet  square. 


168 


THE  EIDER  DUCK. 


The  native  regions  of  the  Eider  Duck  extend  from  45° 
N.  to  the  highest  latitudes  yet  discovered,  both  in  Europe 
and  America.  Solitary  rocky  shores  and  islands  are  their 
favourite  haunts.  Some  wandering  pairs  have  been  known 
to  breed  on  the  rocky  islands  beyond  Portland,  in  the 
state  of  Maine,  which  is  perhaps  the  most  southern  extent 
of  their  breeding  place. 

In  England,  the  Fern  Isles,  on  the  coast  of  Northumber- 
land, are  annually  visited  by  a few  of  these  birds,  being  the 
only  place  in  South  Britain  where  they  are  known  to  breed. 
They  occur  again  in  some  of  the  Western  Isles  of  Scotland. 
Greenland  and  Iceland  abound  with  them,  and  here,  in  par- 
ticular places,  their  nests  are  crowded  so  close  together,  that 
a person  can  scarcely  walk  without  treading  on  them. 

The  natives  of  these  countries  know  the  value  of  the 
down,  and  carry  on  a regular  system  of  plunder,  both  of  it 
and  also  of  the  eggs.  The  nest  is  generally  formed  out- 
wardly of  drift-grass,  dry  sea-weed,  and  such  like  materials ; 
the  inside  composed  of  a large  quantity  of  down,  plucked 
from  the  breast  of  the  female.  In  this  soft,  elastic  bed  she 
deposits  five  eggs,  extremely  smooth  and  glossy,  of  a pale 
olive  colour;  they  are  also  warmly  covered  with  the  same 
kind  of  down.  When  the  whole  number  is  laid,  they  are 
taken  away  by  the  natives,  and  also  the  down  with  which 
the  nest  is  lined,  together  with  that  which  covers  the  eggs. 
The  female  once  more  strips  her  breast  of  the  remaining 
down,  and  lays  a second,  time ; even  this,  with  the  eggs,  is 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 


169 


generally  taken  away ; and  it  is  said  that  the  male,  in  this 
extremity,  furnishes  the  third  quantity  of  down  from  his 
own  breast;  but  if  the  cruel  robbery  be  a third  time 
repeated,  they  abandon  the  place  altogether. 

One  female,  during  the  whole  time  of  laying,  generally 
gives  half  a pound  of  down ; and  we  are  told,  that,  in  the 
year  1750,  the  Iceland  Company  sold  as  much  of  this  article, 
as  amounted  to  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-five 
banco  dollars,  besides  what  was  directly  sent  to  Gluckstadt. 
The  down  from  dead  birds  is  little  esteemed,  having  lost  its 
elasticity. 

These  birds  associate  together  in  flocks,  generally  in  deep 
water,  diving  for  shell-fish,  which  constitute  their  principal 
food.  They  frequently  retire  to  the  rocky  shores  to  rest, 
particularly  on  the  appearance  of  an  approaching  storm. 
They  are  numerous  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  and  are  occa- 
sionally seen  in  winter  as  far  south  as  the  Capes  of  Dela- 
ware. Their  flesh  is  esteemed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Green- 
land, but  tastes  strongly  of  fish. 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE.  ( Anas  Canadensis .) 

This  (says  Wilson)  is  the  Common  Wild  Goose  of  the 
United  States,  universally  known  over  the  whole  country; 

11 


170 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 


whose  regular  periodical  migrations  are  the  sure  signals  of 
returning  spring,  or  approaching  winter.  The  tracts  of 
their  vast  migratory  journeys  are  not  confined  to  the  sea- 
coast  or  its  vicinity.  In  their  aerial  voyages  to  and  from 
the  north,  these  winged  pilgrims  pass  over  the  interior,  on 
both  sides  of  the  mountains,  as  far  west,  at  least,  as  the 
Osage  river ; and  I have  never  yet  visited  any  quarter  of 
the  country  where  the  inhabitants  are  not  familiarly  ac- 
quainted with  the  regular  passing  and  repassing  of  the 
Wild  Geese. 

The  general  opinion  here  is,  that  they  are  on  their  way 
to  the  lakes  to  breed ; but  the  inhabitants  on  the  confines 
of  the  great  lakes  that  separate  us  from  Canada,  are  equally 
ignorant  with  ourselves  of  the  particular  breeding  places  of 
those  birds.  There,  their  journey  north  is  but  commenc- 
ing ; and  how  far  it  extends  it  is  impossible  for  us,  at  pre- 
sent, to  ascertain,  from  our  little  acquaintance  with  these 
frozen  regions.  They  were  seen  by  Hearne,  in  large  flocks, 
within  the  Arctic  circle,  and  were  then  pursuing  their  way 
still  further  north.  Captain  Phipps  speaks  of  seeing  Wild 
Geese  feeding  at  the  water’s  edge  on  the  dreary  coast  of 
Spitzbergen,  in  lat.  80°  27h  It  is  highly  probable  that 
they  extend  their  migrations  under  the  very  pole  itself, 
amid  the  silent  desolation  of  unknown  countries,  shut  out 
since  creation  from  the  prying  eye  of  man  by  everlasting 
and  insuperable  barriers  of  ice.  That  such  places  abound 
with  their  suitable  food,  we  cannot  for  a moment  doubt ; 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 


171 


while  the  absence  of  their  great  destroyer,  man,  and  the 
splendours  of  a perpetual  day,  may  render  such  regions  the 
most  suitable  for  their  purpose. 

Having  fulfilled  the  great  law  of  nature,  the  approaching 
rigours  of  that  dreary  climate  oblige  these  vast,  congre- 
gated flocks  to  steer  for  the  more  genial  regions  of  the 
south.  And  no  sooner  do  they  arrive  at  those  countries  of 
the  earth  inhabited  by  man,  than  carnage  and  slaughter  is 
commenced  on  their  ranks.  The  English  at  Hudson's  Bay, 
says  Pennant,  depend  greatly  on  Geese,  and  in  favourable 
years,  kill  three  or  four  thousand,  and  barrel  them  up  for 
use.  They  send  out  their  servants,  as  well  as  Indians,  to 
shoot  these  birds  on  their  passage.  It  is  in  vain  to  pursue 
them ; they  therefore  form  a row  of  huts,  made  of  boughs, 
at  musket-shot  distance  from  each  other,  and  place  them  in 
a line  across  the  vast  marshes  of  the  country.  Each  stand, 
or  hovel,  as  it  is  called,  is  occupied  by  only  a single  person. 
These  attend  the  flight  of  the  birds,  and,  on  their  approach, 
mimic  their  cackle  so  well  that  the  Geese  will  answer,  and 
wheel,  and  come  nearer  the  stand.  The  sportsman  keeps 
motionless,  and  on  his  knees,  with  his  gun  cocked  the  whole 
time,  and  never  fires  till  he  has  seen  the  eyes  of  the  Geese. 
He  fires  as  they  are  going  from  him ; then  picks  up  an- 
other gun  that  lies  by  him  and  discharges  that.  The  Geese 
which  he  has  killed  he  sets  upon  sticks,  as  if  alive,  to 
decoy  others ; he  also  makes  artificial  birds  for  the  same 
purpose. 


172 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 


In  a good  day,  — for  they  fly  in  very  uncertain  and 
unequal  numbers, — a single  Indian  will  kill  two  hundred. 
Notwithstanding  every  species  of  Goose  has  a different  call, 
yet  the  Indians  are  admirable  in  their  imitations  of  every 
one.  The  autumnal  flight  lasts  from  the  middle  of  August 
to  the  middle  of  October;  those  which  are  taken  in  this 
season,  when  the  frosts  begin,  are  preserved  in  their  fea- 
thers, and  left  to  be  frozen  for  the  fresh  provisions  of  the 
winter  stock.  The  feathers  constitute  an  article  of  com- 
merce, and  are  sent  to  England. 

The  vernal  flight  of  the  Geese  lasts  from  the  middle  of 
April  until  the  middle  of  May.  Their  first  appearance  coin- 
cides with  the  thawing  of  the  swamps,  when  they  are  very 
lean.  Their  arrival  from  the  south  is  impatiently  attended; 
it  is  the  harbinger  of  the  spring,  and  the  month  named  by 
the  Indians  the  Goose  moon.  They  appear  usually  at  their 
settlements  about  St.  George’s  day,  0.  S.,  and  fly  north- 
ward, to  nestle  in  security.  They  prefer  islands  to  the 
continent,  as  further  from  the  haunts  of  man. 

After  such  prodigious  havoc  as  thus  appears  to  be  made 
among  these  birds,  and  their  running  the  gauntlet,  if  I may 
so  speak,  for  many  hundreds  of  miles  through  such  destruc- 
tive fires,  no  wonder  they  should  have  become  more  scarce, 
as  well  as  shy,  by  the  time  they  reach  the  shores  of  the 
United  States. 

Their  first  arrival  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  is  early 
in  October,  and  their  first  numerous  appearance  is  the  sure 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 


173 


prognostic  of  severe  weather.  Those  which  continue  all 
winter  frequent  the  shallow  hays  and  marsh  islands ; their 
principal  food  being  the  broad,  tender,  green  leaves  of  a 
marine  plant  which  grows  on  stones  and  shells,  and  is 
usually  called  sea  cabbage ; and  also  the  roots  of  the  sedge, 
which  they  are  frequently  observed  in  the  act  of  tearing  up. 

The  Wild  Goose,  when  in  good  order,  weighs  from  ten  to 
twelve,  and  sometimes  fourteen  pounds.  They  are  sold  in 
the  Philadelphia  markets  at  from  seventy-five  cents  to  one 
dollar  each ; and  are  estimated  to  yield  half-a-pound  of 
feathers  apiece,  which  produces  twenty-five  or  thirty  cents 
more. 

The  Canada  Goose  is  now  domesticated  in  numerous 
quarters  of  the  country,  and  is  remarked  for  being  extremely 
watchful,  and  more  sensible  of  approaching  changes  in  the 
atmosphere  than  the  common  gray  goose.  In  England, 
France,  and  Germany,  they  have  also  been  long  ago 
domesticated. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTE. 

Mr.  Platt,  a respectable  farmer  on  Long  Island,  being 
out  shooting  in  one  of  the  bays,  which,  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  abound  with  water-fowl,  wounded  a Wild  Goose. 
Being  wing-tipped,  and  unable  to  fly,  he  caught  it,  and 
brought  it  home  alive.  It  proved  to  be  a female;  and, 
turning  it  into  his  yard,  with  a flock  of  tame  geese,  ic  soon 
became  quite  tame  and  familiar,  and  in  a little  time  its 


174 


THE  CANADA  GOOSE. 


■wounded  wing  entirely  healed.  In  the  following  spring, 
when  the  Wild  Geese  migrate  to  the  northward,  a flock 
passed  over  Mr.  Platt’s  barn-yard ; and,  just  at  that  moment, 
their  leader  happening  to  sound  his  bugle-note,  our  Goose, 
in  whom  its  new  habits  and  enjoyments  had  not  quite 
extinguished  the  love  of  liberty,  and  remembering  the  well- 
known  sound,  spread  its  wings,  mounted  into  the  air,  joined 
the  travellers,  and  soon  disappeared.  In  the  succeeding 
autumn,  the  Wild  Geese,  as  was  usual,  returned  from  the 
northward  in  great  numbers,  to  pass  the  winter  in  our  bays 
and  rivers.  Mr.  Platt  happened  to  be  standing  in  his 
yard  when  a flock  passed  directly  over  his  barn.  At  that 
instant,  he  observed  three  Geese  detach  themselves  from 
the  rest,  and,  after  wheeling  round  several  times,  alight  in 
the  middle  of  the  yard.  Imagine  his  surprise  and  pleasure, 
when,  by  certain  well-remembered  signs,  he  recognised  in 
one  of  the  three  his  long-lost  fugitive.  It  was  she  indeed ! 
She  had  travelled  many  hundred  miles  to  the  lakes;  had 
there  hatched  and  reared  her  offspring;  and  had  now 
returned  with  her  little  family,  to  share  with  them  the 
sweets  of  civilized  life. 


THE  SKUA  GULL. 


175 


THE  SKUA  GULL.  ( Lestris  catarractes .) 

This  daring  Jager,  or  feathered  pirate  of  the  ocean 
(says  Nuttall)  has  spread  its  dominion  to  the  extremes  of 
both  hemispheres,  dwelling  chiefly  on  the  hyperboreal  or 
antarctic  seas.  It  is  found  in  the  Hebrides,  Orkney,  Shet- 
land, and  Faroe  Islands,  as  well  as  in  Norway  and  Iceland. 
In  America,  it  is  found  in  the  high  northern  regions ; then 
again  in  many  parts  of  the  Pacific,  at  Port  Egmont,  in  the 
Falkland  Islands  (hence  called  Port  Egmont  Hens.)  In 
the  latter  end  of  December,  their  breeding  season  in  that 
hemisphere,  at  Christmas  Sound,  in  Terra  del  Fuego,  they 
were  found  in  great  plenty,  making  their  nests  in  the  dry 
grass.  They  are  also  seen  to  the  east  of  New  Zealand. 
Such  is  the  extensive  geographic  range  of  this  species, 
according  to  Pennant  and  others,  at  the  same  time,  we  may 
fairly  doubt  the  identity  of  the  northern  and  southern  birds, 
since  they  are  but  rarely  seen  on  their  passage  any  great 
distance  towards  the  south.  Off  the  coast  of  Newfoundland, 
probably  this  species  is  seen  in  June,  widely  exploring  the 
ocean,  and  in  the  depth  of  winter  they  migrate  into  the 
bays  along  the  coast  of  Massachusetts,  but  I believe  they 
are  nearly  unknown  as  far  south  as  the  coast  of  New 
Jersey. 

As  the  supposed  identic  species  of  the  two  hemispheres 
appear  therefore  never  to  meet  in  their  range  to  warmer 


176 


THE  SKUA  GULt. 


countries,  proceeding  rarely,  if  ever,  into  the  tropics,  we 
may  almost  rest  satisfied  that,  however  closely  allied,  they 
are  still  of  distinct  races,  originating  from  different  creative 
points  of  the  globe. 

The  Cataract  Yager,  so  called  by  Linnaeus  from  the 
rapidity  and  violence  with  which  it  darts  down  on  its  prey, 
is  a very  bold  and  voracious  species.  Like  the  eagle  it 
sometimes  pounces  upon  the  domestic  flocks,  and  tearing  up 
a lamb,  carries  the  mangled  pieces  to  feed  its  craving 
brood.  In  the  rocky  island  of  Foula,  however,  better  sup- 
plied with  its  ordinary  fare  from  the  deep,  it  even  refrains 
from  injuring  the  poultry,  and  in  its  enmity  to  the  eagle, 
defends  the  flocks  from  its  attacks;  so  different,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  are  the  habits  and  propensities  of 
animals. 

It  however  often  preys  on  the  small  gulls  and  other  birds 
with  all  the  rapacity  of  a hawk,  and  for  which  its  powerful 
claws  seem  to  indicate  both  the  ability  and  instinctive 
inclination.  It  is  often,  at  the  same  time,  satisfied  with 
seizing  on  the  fish,  which  its  accidental  provider  easily  dis- 
gorges whenever  alarmed.  In  defence  of  its  young  its 
temerity  scarcely  knows  any  bound.  It  will  at  such  times 
often  attack  a whole  company  of  men,  should  they  disturb 
it,  or  molest  its  cherished  brood. 

After  the  breeding  season,  old  and  young  take  to  the  sea, 
in  small  companies  or  pairs,  and  venture,  like  the  albatross, 
boldly  and  securely  over  the  wide  ocean.  Off  the  stormy 


THE  SKUA  GULL. 


177 


Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  Cape  Horn,  as  in  the  middle  of  the 
vast  Atlantic,  these  black  and  piratical  birds,  like  weathered 
mariners,  are  seen  to  levy  their  contributions  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  the  deep,  soaring  on  high  above  the  mountain 
wave,  and  flying  out  in  easy  circling  tours  like  so  many 
boding  ravens,  occasionally  reconnoitring  at  a distance  the 
sailing  vessel  that  accidentally  ventures  across  their  wide 
and  desolate  domain. 

In  the  southern  hemisphere,  bold  and  predaceous  by 
privation,  the  Skua  Jager  is  frequently  seen  to  attack  the 
gigantic  albatross,  beating  it  with  violence  while  on  the 
wing,  and  who  generally  escapes  from  the  daring  freebooter 
alone  by  settling  down  into  the  water.  Still  the  Jager 
himself  succumbs  to  the  rage  and  violence  of  the  elements, 
and  at  the  approach,  or  during  the  continuance  of  the 
tempest,  he  condescends  to  seek  out  the  shelter  of  the  bay 
or  the  neighbouring  coast.  They  are  also  not  unfrequently 
associated  with  the  common  tern,  and  have  a somewhat 
similar  cry. 

The  Skua,  like  the  larger  Gulls,  commonly  feeds  on  fish 
and  mollusca,  as  well  as  on  carrion  and  cetaceous  animals, 
and  seeking  out  the  nests  of  other  marine  birds,  he  robs 
them  frequently  of  their  eggs.  They  nest  themselves  in  the 
remote  and  cold  regions,  associating  in  large  bands,  on  the 
summits  of  mountains,  or  in  the  herbage  and  heath  con- 
tiguous to  the  coast.  They  lay  three  or  four  very  pointed 
olivaceous  eggs,  sprinkled  with  large  brown  spots. 


178 


THE  WOODCOCK. 


THE  WOODCOCK.  ( Rusticola  minor.') 

The  American  Woodcock,  like  the  snipe,  appears  again 
to  be  a near  representative  of  that  of  Europe,  whose  man- 
ners and  habits  it  almost  entirely  possesses,  differing,  how- 
ever, materially  in  the  temperature  of  the  climates  selected 
for  its  residence,  confining  itself  in  the  summer  to  the  south 
side  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  breeding  in  all  the  intermediate 
space  as  far  as  the  limits  of  the  Middle  States,  and  retiring 
in  winter,  for  the  most  part,  either  to  or  beyond  the 
boundary  of  the  Union. 

The  European  species,  on  the  contrary,  courting  cooler 
climates,  winters  in  Great  Britain  and  the  north  of  Europe, 
and  retires  as  early  as  March,  to  breed  in  the  Alps  or  in 
the  frigid  wilds  of  Sweden,  Norway,  Russia,  and  penetrates 
even  to  the  icy  shores  of  Greenland,  and  the  heaths  of  Ice- 
land. About  the  same  period,  early  in  March,  the  Ameri- 
can Woodcock  revisits  Pennsylvania,  and  soon  after  the 
New  England  or  Eastern  States.  Indeed,  so  sedentary  is 
the  species  at  times,  that  a few  are  known  to  winter  in  the 
sheltered  forests  and  open  watery  glades  of  Pennsylvania ; 
at  the  same  season  also,  many  are  seen  in  the  vicinity  of 
Natchez,  in  Mississippi. 

According  to  their  usual  habits,  they  keep  secluded  in 
the  woods  and  thickets,  till  the  approach  of  evening,  when 
they  sally  forth  to  seek  out  springs,  paths,  and  broken  soil, 
in  quest  of  worms  and  other  insects,  on  which  they  feed. 


THE  WOODCOCK. 


179 


They  now  disperse  themselves  over  the  country  to  breed, 
and  indicate  their  presence  in  all  directions  by  the  marks 
of  their  boring  bills,  which  are  seen  in  such  soft  and  boggy 
places  as  are  usually  sheltered  by  thickets  and  woods.  They 
also  turn  over  the  fallen  leaves  from  side  to  side  with  their 
bills  in  quest  of  lurking  insects,  but  never  scratch  with  their 
feet,  though  so  robust  in  their  appearance. 

The  sensibility  possessed  by  the  extremity  of  the  bill,  as 
in  the  snipe,  is  of  such  an  exquisite  nature,  that  they  are 
enabled  to  collect  their  food  by  the  mere  touch,  without 
using  their  eyes,  which  are  set  at  such  a distance  and  eleva- 
tion in  the  back  part  of  the  head,  as  to  give  the  bird  a 
remarkable  aspect  of  stupidity.  When  flushed  or  surprised 
in  their  hiding-places,  they  only  rise  in  a hurried  manner 
to  the  tops  of  the  bushes,  or  glide  through  the  undergrowth 
to  a short  distance,  when  they  instantly  drop  down  again, 
and  run  out  for  some  space  on  touching  the  ground,  lurking 
as  soon  as  they  imagine  themselves  in  a safe  retreat.  At 
times,  in  open  woods,  they  fly  out  straight  with  considera- 
ble vigour  and  swiftness,  but  the  effort,  from  the  shortness 
of  the  wing,  is  always  attended  with  much  muscular 
exertion. 

Early  in  April,  the  Woodcocks  in  pairs  select  a spot  for 
breeding,  which  is  generally  in  or  near  some  retired  part  of 
the  same  woods  which  usually  affords  them  their  food  and 
shelter.  The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  in  a tuft  of 
grass,  or  in  the  protection  of  some  old  stump.  It  is  formed 


180 


THE  WOODCOCK. 


with  little  art,  of  such  withered  leaves  and  old  grass  as  the 
convenience  of  the  place  affords ; the  eggs  are  four,  rather 
large,  of  a dark  yellowish-white  approaching  olive,  specked 
and  confluently  blotched  with  three  slightly  different  shades 
of  dark  yellowish-brown  spots,  most  numerous  at  the  greater 
end.  Eggs  have  been  found,  even  in  Massachusetts,  in 
sheltered  woods,  as  early  as  the  month  of  February;  but 
the  usual  time,  according  to  the  age  and  general  appear- 
ance of  the  young,  is  not  before  the  commencement  of 
April. 

At  this  time,  in  the  morning,  as  well  as  evening,  but  more 
particularly  the  latter,  the  male,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  mate 
and  nest,  rises  successively  in  a spiral  course,  like  a lark. 
While  ascending  he  utters  a hurried  and  feeble  warble ; but 
in  descending  the  tones  increase  as  he  approaches  towards 
the  ground,  and  then,  becoming  loud  and  sweet,  passes  into 
an  agreeable,  quick,  and  tumultuous  song.  As  soon  as  the 
performer  descends,  the  sound  ceases  for  a moment,  when 
with  a sort  of  stifled  utterance,  accompanied  by  a stiff  and 
balancing  motion  of  the  body,  the  word  blaik , and  some- 
times paip  paip  is  uttered.  This  uncouth  and  guttural 
bleating  seems  a singular  contrast  to  the  delightful  serenade, 
of  which  this  is  uniformly  the  close. 

I heard  this  piping  and  bleating  (says  Mr.  Nuttall)  in  the 
marshes  of  West  Cambridge,  on  the  15th  of  April,  and  they 
had  arrived  about  the  first  week  in  that  month.  This  noc- 
turnal music  continued  at  regular  intervals,  and  in  succes- 


THE  WOODCOCK. 


181 


sion,  until  near  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  is  prolonged 
for  a number  of  days  during  the  period  of  incubation,  pro- 
bably ceasing  with  the  new  cares  attendant  on  the  hatching 
of  the  brood.  The  female,  as  in  the  European  species,  is 
greatly  attached  to  her  nest,  and  an  instance  is  related  to 
me  of  a hen  being  taken  up  from  it,  and  put  on  again  with- 
out attempting  to  fly. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  ANECDOTES. 

Mr.  Latham  mentions  a female  of  the  common  Wood- 
cock sitting  on  her  eggs  so  tamely,  that  she  suffered  herself 
to  be  stroked  on  the  back  without  offering  to  rise,  and  the 
male,  no  less  interested  in  the  common  object  of  their  cares, 
sat  also  close  at  hand.  The  European  species  has  had  the 
credit  of  exercising  so  much  ingenuity  and  affection,  as  to 
seize  upon  one  of  its  weakly  young,  and  carry  it  along  to  a 
place  of  security  from  its  enemies. 

Mr.  Ives,  of  Salem,  once  on  flushing  an  American  Wood- 
cock from  its  nest,  was  astonished  to  see  that  it  carried  off 
in  its  foot  one  of  its  brood,  the  only  one  which  happened  to 
be  newly  hatched ; and  as  the  young  run  immediately  on 
leaving  the  shell,  it  is  obvious  that  the  little  nurslings 
could  be  well  reared,  or  all  of  them,  as  they  might  appear, 
without  the  aid  of  the  nest,  now  no  longer  secured  from 
intrusion. 

In  New  England  this  highly  esteemed  game  is  common 
in  the  market  of  Boston  to  the  close  of  October,  but  they 


182 


THE  WOODCOCK. 


all  disappear  in  the  latter  part  of  December.  In  that  quar- 
ter of  the  Union  they  are  scarcely  in  order  for  shooting 
before  the  latter  end  of  J uly,  or  beginning  of  August ; but 
from  this  time  to  their  departure;  they  continue  in  good 
condition  for  the  table. 

The  springes  or  springers,  set  for  Woodcocks  in  Europe, 
in  places  they  are  found  to  frequent  by  the  evidence  of  their 
borings,  &c.,  are  commonly  formed  of  an  elastic  stick,  to 
which  is  fastened  a horse-hair  noose,  put  through  a hole  in 
a peg,  fastened  into  the  ground,  to  which  a trigger  is  an- 
nexed : and,  in  order  to  compel  the  Woodcock  to  walk  into 
the  trap,  an  extended  fence  is  made  on  each  side,  by  small 
sticks,  set  up  close  enough  to  prevent  the  bird  passing 
between  them;  these  concentrate  at  the  trap,  so  that  in 
this  funnel-shaped  fence,  the  bird,  in  feeding,  is  made  to 
pass  through  the  narrow  passage,  and  is  almost  to  a cer- 
tainty caught  by  the  legs. 

As  the  season  advances,  and  food  begins  to  fail,  by  reason 
of  inclement  and  cold  weather,  the  Woodcocks  leave  the 
interior ; and  approaching  the  shelter  of  the  sea-coast  and 
the  neighbouring  marshes,  they  now  become  abundant,  and 
are,  at  such  times,  late  in  autumn,  killed  in  great  numbers. 
These  are  also  their  assembling  points  previous  to  their 
southern  migrations,  which  are  performed  in  a desultory 
and  irregular  manner,  their  motions,  as  usual,  being  mostly 
nocturnal,  or  in  the  twilight ; and  though  many  are  now 
met  with  in  the  same  low  meadows  and  marshes,  they  are 


THE  GREAT  AUK.  183 

brought  together  by  common  necessity,  and  never  move  in 
concerted  flocks. 

At  this  season,  their  movements  are  not  betrayed  by  any 
note  or  call ; the  vocal  powers  of  the  species  are  only  called 
into  existence  at  the  period  of  propagation ; at  other  times 
they  move  and  start  to  wing  in  silence.  The  young  run  or 
wander  off  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched,  are  at  this  period 
covered  with  a brownish-white  down,  and,  on  being  taken, 
utter  a slender  bleat,  or  clear  and  long  drawn  peep. 


THE  GREAT  AUK.  (Alca  impennis). 

This  bird  is  of  the  size  of  a goose ; its  bill  is  black,  and 
covered  at  the  base  with  short  velvetlike  feathers.  The 
upper  parts  of  the  plumage  are  black,  and  the  lower  parts 
white,  with  a spot  of  white  between  the  bill  and  the  eyes, 
and  an  oblong  stripe  of  the  same  on  the  wings,  which  are 
too  short  for  flight.  It  is  a very  bad  walker,  but  swims 
and  dives  well.  It  is,  however  observed  by  seamen,  that  it 
is  never  seen  out  of  soundings,  so  that  its  appearance  serves 
as  an  infallible  direction  to  land.  It  feeds  on  the  lump- 
fish, and  others  of  the  same  size ; and  is  frequently  seen  on 
the  coasts  of  Norway,  Greenland,  Newfoundland,  &c.  The 
female  lays  but  one  egg,  which  she  hatches  on  a ledge,  close 
to  the  seamark. 


184 


THE  SNIPE. 


There  is  another  bird  of  this  description,  called  the 
Penguin,  of  which  there  are  several  varieties,  which  seems 
to  hold  the  same  place  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  world, 
that  the  Auks  do  in  the  northern ; being  only  found  in  the 
temperate  and  frigid  zones  of  the  southern  hemisphere.  It 
resembles  the  former  in  almost  all  its  habits  : walking 
erect,  and  being  very  stupid : it  also  resembles  it  in  colour, 
shortness  of  wings,  rapidity  of  swimming,  mode  of  feeding, 
and  of  making  its  nest.  These  birds  hatch  their  young  in 
an  erect  position ; and  cackle  like  geese,  but  in  a hoarser 
tone.  The  most  remarkable  kind  is  the  Crested  Penguin, 
which  inhabits  several  of  the  South  Sea  islands,  and  which 
is  sometimes  called  tEe  Hopping  Penguin,  or  Jumping 
Jack,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  leaping  quite  out  of  the 
water,  sometimes  to  the  height  of  three  or  four  feet,  when 
it  meets  an  obstacle  in  its  course. 


THE  SNIPE.  ( Scolopax  Wilsonii .) 

The  Snipe  of  North  America,  so  nearly  related  to  that  of 
Europe,  is  found  according  to  the  season,  in  every  part 
of  the  continent,  from  Hudson’s  Bay  to  Cayenne,  and  does 
not  appear  indeed  sufficiently  distinct  from  the  Brazilian 
Snipe  of  Swainson,  which  inhabits  abundantly  the  whole  of 


THE  SNIPE. 


185 


South  America  as  far  as  Chili.  Many  winter  in  the  marshes 
and  inundated  river-grounds  of  the  Southern  States  of 
the  Union,  where  they  are  seen  in  the  month  of  February, 
frequenting  springs  and  boggy  thickets;  others  proceed 
along  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  even  penetrate 
into  the  equatorial  regions. 

By  the  second  week  in  March,  they  begin  to  revisit  the 
marshes,  meadows,  and  low  grounds  of  the  Middle  States, 
and  soon  after  they  arrive  in  New  England.  In  mild  and 
cloudy  weather,  towards  evening,  and  until  the  last  rays  of 
the  setting  sun  have  disappeared  from  the  horizon,  we  hear, 
as  in  the  north  of  Europe,  the  singular  tremulous  murmur- 
ings  of  the  Snipes,  making  their  gyratory  rounds  so  high  in 
the  air  as  scarcely  to  be  visible  to  the  sight.  This  hum- 
ming, or  rather  flickering  and  somewhat  wailing  sound, 
has  a great  similarity  to  the  booming  of  the  night-hawk ; 
but  more  resembles  the  sound  produced  by  quickly  and 
interruptedly  blowing  into  the  neck  of  a large  bottle  than 
the  whirring  of  a spinning-wheel. 

But,  however  difficult  and  awkward  may  be  our  attempts 
to  convey  any  adequate  idea  of  this  quailing  murmur,  it 
seems  to  be,  to  its  agent,  an  expression  of  tender  feeling  or 
amatory  revery,  as  it  is  only  uttered  at  the  commencement, 
and  during  the  early  part  of  the  pairing  season,  while 
hovering  over  those  marshes  or  river-meadows,  which  are 
to  be  the  cradle  and  domicil  of  their  expected  progeny,  as 
they  have  already  been  of  themselves  and  their  mates. 

12 


I 


186  TIIE  SNIPE. 

This  note  is  probably  produced  by  an  undulatory  motion 
of  air  in  the  throat,  while  in  the  act  of  whirling  flight ; and 
appears  most  distinct  as  the  Snipe  descends  towards  the 
ground.  However  produced,  the  sound  and  its  originators 
are  commonly  so  concealed  by  the  fast  closing  shades  of 
night,  and  the  elevation  from  whence  it  issues  in  cloudy 
weather,  that  the  whole  seems  shrouded  in  mystery. 

My  aged  maternal  parent  (says  Mr.  Nuttall)  remembered, 
and  could  imitate  with  exactness  this  low  wailing  murmur, 
which  she  had  for  so  many  years  heard  over  the  marshes  of 
my  native  Bibble,  in  the  fine  evenings  of  spring,  when  all 
nature  seemed  ready  to  do  homage  for  the  bounties  of  the 
season ; and  yet  at  the  age  of  seventy,  the  riddle  had  not 
been  expounded  with  satisfaction. 

Over  the  wide  marshes  of  Fresh  Pond,  about  the  middle 
of  April,  my  attention  was  called  to  the  same  invisible 
voice,  which  issued  from  the  floating  clouds  of  a dark 
evening;  the  author  was  here  called  the  Alewife  Bird, 
from  its  arrival  with  the  shoals  of  that  fish  in  the  neigh- 
bouring lake. 

From  the  elevation  at  which  the  sound  issued,  probably, 
it  appeared  less  loud  and  distinct  than  that  which  I have 
since  heard  from  the  English  Snipe.  I imagined  then, 
that  the  noise  was  made  by  the  quick  and  undulatory  fan- 
ning of  the  wings,  but  this  would  not  produce  the  shrillness 
of  tone  by  which  it  is  characterized,  as  any  one  may  satisfy 
himself  by  hearkening  to  the  very  different  low  buzz 


THE  SNIPE. 


187 


made  by  tbe  wings  of  tbe  humming  bird.  In  this  instance, 
as  well  as  in  the  former,  all  my  sporting  acquaintance  were 
familiar  with  this  quivering  call,  but  had  never  decided 
upon  its  author. 

At  the  same  time,  probably  instigated  by  anger  and 
jealousy,  I observed  flying  high  and  rapid,  a pair  of  these 
Snipes,  who  then  uttered  a discordant  quacking  sound; 
something  like  the  bleat  they  make  when  they  have  de- 
scended to  the  ground,  and  which  they  accompany  with  an 
attitude  of  peculiar  stupidity,  balancing  the  head  forwards, 
and  the  tail  upwards  and  downwards,  like  the  action  of 
some  automaton  toy,  jerked  and  set  in  motion  by  a tight- 
drawn  string. 

After  incubation,  which  takes  place  rather  early  in  the 
spring,  the  humming  is  no  longer  heard,  and  the  sprightly 
aerial  evolutions  which  appeared  so  indefatigable,  have  now 
given  way  to  sedater  attitudes  and  feebler  tones.  A few 
pairs  no  doubt  breed  in  the  extensive  and  almost  inaccessi- 
ble morasses  of  Cambridge  ponds  or  lagoons ; and  I have 
been  informed,  that  they  select  a tuft  of  sedge  for  the  foun- 
dation of  the  nest,  which  is  constructed  with  considerable 
art ; the  eggs,  like  those  of  the  European  species,  about  four, 
are  perhaps  alike  olivaceous  and  spotted  with  brown. 

They  probably  scatter  themselves  over  the  interior  of  the 
continent  to  breed,  nowhere  associating  in  great  numbers ; 
nor  are  they  at  all  common  in  the  hyperboreal  retreats 
chosen  by  so  many  of  the  other  wading  birds.  My  friend, 


188 


THE  SNIPE. 


Mr.  Ives,  of  Salem,  also  informs  me,  that  a few  pairs  of  this 
species  breed  in  that  vicinity. 

The  Snipe,  almost  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  conceals  itself 
with  assiduity  in  the  long  grass,  sedge,  and  rushes  of  its 
enswamped  and  boggy  retreat.  Aware  of  danger  from  the 
approach  of  the  sportsman,  it  springs  at  a distance  with 
great  rapidity,  uttering  usually  a feeble  squeak ; and  making 
several  inflections  before  it  takes  a direct  course,  it  becomes 
very  difficult  to  shoot,  and  is  more  easily  caught  with  a 
snare  or  springe  similar  to  that  which  is  set  for  woodcocks. 
Being,  deservedly,  in  high  repute,  as  an  exquisite  flavoured 
game,  great  pains  are  taken  to  obtain  Snipes. 

In  the  spring  season,  on  their  first  arrival,  they  are  lean ; 
but  in  the  autumn,  assembled  towards  the  coast  from  all 
parts  of  the  interior,  breeding  even  to  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  they  are  now  fat  and  abundant,  and,  accom- 
panied by  their  young,  are  at  this  time  met  with  in  all  the 
low  grounds  and  enswamped  marshes  along  the  whole  range 
of  the  Atlantic ; but  ever  shy  and  dexterous,  they  are  only 
game  for  the  most  active  and  eager  sportsmen.  When  on 
the  wing,  they  may,  like  many  other  birds  of  this  family, 
be  decoyed  and  attracted  by  the  imitation  of  their  voice. 

They  are,  like  the  European  Snipe,  which  migrates  to 
winter  in  England,  by  no  means  averse  to  cold  weather,  so 
long  as  the  ground  is  not  severely  frozen,  in  such  a manner 
as  to  exclude  their  feeding ; so  that  even  in  Massachusetts 
they  are  found  occasionally  down  to  the  middle  of  December. 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


189 


They  are  nowhere  properly  gregarious,  but  only  accident- 
ally associate,  where  their  food  happens  to  be  abundant. 
For  this  purpose  they  are  perpetually  nibbling  and  boring 
the  black  marshy  soil,  from  which  they  sometimes  seem  to 
collect  merely  the  root-fibres  which  it  happens  to  contain, 
though  their  usual  and  more  substantial  fare  consists  of 
worms,  leeches,  and  some  long-legged  aquatic  insects;  the 
Snipe  of  Europe  also  seizes  upon  the  smaller  species  of 
Scarabceus.  Their  food,  no  doubt,  is  mixed  with  the  black 
and  slimy  earth  they  raise  while  boring  for  roots  and  worms, 
and  which,  in  place  of  gravel,  or  other ' hard  substances, 
appears  to  be  the  usual  succedaneum  they  employ  to  assist 
their  digestion  and  distend  the  stomach. 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL.  ( Rallus  Carolinus.') 

The  Soree,  or  Common  Rail  of  America,  which  assemble 
in  such  numbers  on  the  reedy  shores  of  the  larger  rivers,  in 
the  Middle  and  adjoining  warmer  states,  at  the  approach 
of  autumn,  and  which  afford  such  abundant  employ  to  the 
sportsman,  at  that  season,  like  most  of  the  tribe  to  which  it 
belongs,  is  a bird  of  passage,  wintering  generally  south  of 
the  limits  of  the  Union. 

The^  begin  to  make  their  appearance,  in  the  marshes  of 


190 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


Georgia,  by  the  close  of  February ; and,  on  the  2d  of  May, 
Wilson  observed  them  in  the  low  watery  meadows  below 
Philadelphia.  In  the  remote  fur  countries  of  the  north,  up 
to  the  62 d parallel,  they  are  common  through  the  summer, 
and  were  observed  by  Dr.  Richardson  to  be  particularly 
abundant  on  the  banks  of  the  small  lakes  that  skirt  the 
Saskatchewan  plains.  In  the  vast  reedy  marshes,  swamps, 
and  lagoons  of  these  desolate  regions,  the  greater  part  of 
the  species  are  no  doubt  reared,  as  but  few  of  them  are  ever 
known  to  breed  in  the  warmer  parts  of  th<*  continent,  and 
the  history  of  their  manners,  at  the  period  of  incubation,  is, 
therefore,  still  a blank. 

The  observations  of  persons  not  conversant  with  the  nice 
distinctions  necessary  in  natural  history,  ought  to  be  received 
with  caution,  as  they  might  easily  confound  the  mere  young 
of  the  present  and  the  preceding  species,  as  one  and  the 
same.  The  alleged  nest,  eggs,  and  young  birds  covered 
with  a black  down,  mentioned  by  Wilson,  agree  perfectly 
with  the  Virginian  Rail;  but  the  length  of  the  bill,  and 
any  other  discriminating  particulars,  are  wholly  omitted. 

We  may  conclude,  therefore,  up  to  the  present  time,  that 
the  actual  young  and  nest  of  the  Soree  are  yet  unknown, 
and  that  all  which  has  been  said  on  this  subject  is  but  con- 
jecture, or  a misapplication  of  facts  belonging  to  the  pre- 
ceding species. 

Like  the  other  migrating  waders,  the  Rails,  accompanied 
by  their  swarming  broods,  bred  in  the  north  and  west, 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


191 


begin  to  show  themselves  on  the  reedy  borders  of  the  Dela- 
ware, and  other  large  waters  of  the  Middle  States,  whose 
still  and  sluggish  streams,  spreading  out  over  muddy  fiats, 
give  birth  to  an  abundant  crop  of  the  seeds  of  the  wild 
rice,  now  the  favourite  food  of  the  Kails  and  the  rice 
birds. 

On  first  arriving,  from  the  labour  and  privation  incident 
to  their  migrations,  they  are  lean,  and  little  valued  as  food ; 
but  as  their  favourite  natural  harvest  begins  to  swell  out 
and  approach  maturity,  they  rapidly  fatten ; and,  from  the 
middle  of  September  to  the  same  time  in  October,  they 
are  in  excellent  order  for  the  table,  and  eagerly  sought 
after  wherever  a gun  can  be  obtained  and  brought  into 
operation. 

Walking  by  the  borders  of  these  reedy  rivers,  in  ordinary 
seasons,  you  hear,  in  all  directions,  the  crowding  Kails 
squeaking  like  young  puppies.  If  a stone  be  thrown  in 
amongst  them,  there  is  a general  outcry  through  the  reeds, 
a confused  and  reiterated  'kuk  ' kuk  'kuk  ’k’k  ' k'k , resounds 
from  the  covered  marsh,  and  is  again  renewed  by  the  timid 
throng,  on  the  discharge  of  a gun  or  any  other  sudden  noise 
within  their  hearing. 

The  Kails,  however  numerous,  are  scarcely  visible,  unless 
it  be  at  or  near  to  high  water ; for  when  the  tide  is  down, 
they  have  the  art  so  well  to  conceal  themselves  among 
the  reeds,  that  you  may  walk  past  and  even  over  them, 


192 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


where  there  are  hundreds,  without  seeing  probably  a single 
individual. 

The  flight  of  the  Rails,  while  confined  among  the  rice 
reeds,  is  low,  feeble,  and  fluttering,  with  the  legs  hanging 
down,  as  if  the  effort  were  unnatural  and  constrained,  which 
may,  no  doubt,  at  times,  be  produced  by  the  extreme  cor- 
pulency which  they  attain  in  a favourable  season  for  food ; 
yet,  occasionally,  they  will  rise  to  a considerable  height, 
and  cross  considerable  streams  without  any  reluctance  or 
difficulty ; so  that  however  short  may  be  their  wings,  the 
muscles  by  which  they  are  set  in  motion  are  abundantly 
sufficient  to  provide  them  the  means  of  pursuing  the  de- 
liberate stages  of  their  migratory  course.  Wherever  the 
Zizania  and  its  nutritious  grain  abounds,  there  the  Rails 
are  generally  seen. 

In  the  reedy  lakes  of  Michigan,  as  well  as  the  tide-water 
streams  of  the  Atlantic,  these  birds  are  found  congregated, 
in  quest  of  their  favourite  food.  In  Virginia,  they  are  par 
ticularly  abundant  along  the  grassy  banks  of  James  River, 
within  the  bounds  of  tide-water,  where  they  are  often  taken 
in  the  night,  while  perched  among  the  reeds ; being  stupi- 
fied  by  the  glare  of  a fire  carried  in  among  them,  they  are 
then  easily  approached  by  a boat,  and  rudely  knocked  on 
the  head  with  a paddle ; sometimes  in  such  quantities,  that 
three  negroes,  in  as  many  hours,  have  been  known  to  kill 
from  twenty  to  eighty  dozen. 

Fear  seems  to  be  a ruling  passion  among  the  whole  tribe 


THE  CAROLINA  BAIL. 


193 


of  Kails  and  their  kindred  allies ; with  faculties  for  acting 
in  the  day,  timidity  alone  seems  to  have  rendered  them 
almost  nocturnal  in  their  actions ; their  sole  address  and 
cunning  seems  entirely  employed  in  finding  out  means  of 
concealment ; this  is  particularly  the  case  when  wounded ; 
they  then  swim  out  and  dive  with  so  much  caution  as  sel- 
dom to  be  seen  again  above  water ) they  even  cling  with 
their  feet  to  the  reeds  beneath  that  element,  where  they 
would  sooner  endure  suffocation  than  expose  themselves 
with  any  chance  of  being  seen ; they  often  also  skulk,  on 
ordinary  occasions,  under  the  floating  reeds,  with  nothing 
more  than  the  bill  above  water. 

At  other  times,  when  wounded,  they  will  dive,  and  rise 
under  the  gunwale  of  the  sportsman’s  boat,  and  secreting 
themselves  there,  have  the  cunning  to  go  round  as  the  ves- 
sel moves,  until,  given  up  as  lost,  they  find  an  opportunity 
of  completing  their  escape. 

According  to  the  observations  of  Mr.  Ord,  the  females, 
more  particularly,  are  sometimes  so  affected  by  fear,  or 
some  other  passion,  as  to  fall  into  sudden  fits,  and  appear 
stretched  out  as  lifeless,  recovering,  after  a while,  the  use 
of  their  faculties,  and  falling  again  into  syncope,  on  merely 
presenting  the  finger  in  a threatening  attitude. 

At  such  times,  and  during  their  obstinate  divings,  they 
often  fall  victims,  no  doubt,  to  their  enemies  in  the  watery 
element,  as  they  are  sometimes  seized  by  eels  and  other 
voracious  fish,  who  lie  in  wait  for  them ; so  that  the  very 


194 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


excess  of  their  fear  and  caution  hurries  them  into  additional 
dangers,  and  frustrates  the  intention  of  this  instinct  for 
preservation. 

The  swooning,  to  which  they  appear  subject,  is  not  un- 
common with  some  small  and  delicate  irritable  birds,  and 
canaries  are  often  liable  to  these  death-like  spasms,  into 
which  they  also  fall  at  the  instigation  of  some  immaterial  or 
trifling  excitement  of  a particular  kind. 

During  the  greater  part  of  the  months  of  September  and 
October,  the  market  of  Philadelphia  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  this  highly  esteemed  game,  and  they  are  usually  sold 
at  from  fifty  cents  to  a dollar  the  dozen.  But  soon  after  the 
first  frosts  of  October,  or  towards  the  close  of  that  month, 
they  all  move  off  to  the  south.  In  Virginia,  they  usually 
remain  until  the  first  week  in  November.  In  the  vicinity 
of  Cambridge  (Mass.),  a few,  as  a rarity  only,  are  now  and 
then  seen  in  the  course  of  the  autumn,  in  the  Zizania 
patches  which  border  the  outlet  of  Fresh  Pond ; but  none 
are  either  known  or  suspected  to  breed  in  any  part  of  this 
state,  where  they  are,  as  far  as  I can  learn,  everywhere 
uncommon. 

I LLUSTRAT I V E ANECDOTES. 

The  usual  method  of  shooting  Bail  on  the  Delaware, 
according  to  Wilson,  is  as  follows : — The  sportsman  proceeds 
to  the  scene  of  action  in  a batteau,  with  an  experienced 
boatman,  who  propels  the  boat  with  a pole.  About  two 


THE  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


195 


hours  before  high  water,  they  enter  the  reeds,  the  sportsman 
taking  his  place  in  the  bow  ready  for  action  • while  the 
boatman  in  the  stern-seat  pushes  her  steadily  through  the 
reeds. 

The  Rails  generally  spring  singly,  as  the  boat  advances, 
and  at  a short  distance  ahead,  are  instantly  shot  down, 
while  the  boatman,  keeping  his  eye  on  the  spot  where  the 
bird  fell,  directs  the  vessel  forward,  and  picks  it  up  as  the 
gunner  is  loading. 

In  this  manner  the  boat  continues  through  and  over  the 
wild-rice  marsh,  the  birds  flushing  and  falling,  the  gunner 
loading  and  firing,  while  the  helmsman  is  pushing  and  pick- 
ing up  the  game ; which  sport  continues  till  an  hour  or  two 
after  high  water,  when  its  shallowness,  and  the  strength 
and  weight  of  the  floating  reeds,  as  also  the  unwillingness 
of  the  game  to  spring  as  the  tide  decreases,  oblige  them  to 
return. 

Several  boats  are  sometimes  within  a short  distance  of 
each  other,  and  a perpetual  cracking  of  musketry  prevails 
along  the  whole  reedy  shores  of  the  river.  In  these 
excursions,  it  is  not  uncommon  for  an  active  and  expert 
marksman  to  kill  ten  or  twelve  dozen  in  the  serving  of  a 
single  tide. 


196 


THE  RUFF. 


THE  RUFF.  ( Tringa  pugnax.') 

The  Ruff  (says  Mr.  Wilson),  no  less  than  the  family  of 
sandpipers,  with  which  it  is  associated  in  the  systems,  is 
almost  equally  given  to  wandering,  being  found,  according 
to  the  season,  dispersed  in  flocks  throughout  the  principal 
parts  of  the  cold  and  temperate  climates  of  the  northern 
hemisphere.  In  spring  they  arrive  in  great  numbers  on  the 
coast  of  Holland,  Germany,  Flanders,  and  England;  they 
are  equally  abundant  in  Sweden,  occur  in  Denmark,  Norway, 
Finmark,  and  Iceland,  and  breed  in  the  great  desolate 
marshes  of  Siberia  and  Lapland,  as  well  as  in  milder  latitudes. 

According  to  Skioldebrand,  at  Uleaborg,  the  capital  of 
Ostrobothnia,  they  arrive  in  the  spring,  in  such  vast  flocks, 
as  almost  to  obscure  the  heavens,  and  resting  on  the  floating 
ice,  or  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  fill  the  air  with  their  con- 
fused cries;  and  the  Ruffs,  contending  for  their  mates, 
appear  like  a pigmy  army  of  pugilists.  My  friend,  Mr. 
Cooper,  about  three  years  ago,  obtained  a specimen  of  the 
Ruff,  from  the  shores  of  Long  Island.  From  the  rarity  of 
this  occurrence,  we  can  only  consider  the  Ruff,  on  the 
American  coasts,  as  an  accidental  straggler ; and  their  visits 
are  probably  more  common  on  the  western  than  the  eastern 
side  of  the  continent. 

The  Ruffs,  like  most  of  the  birds,  bred  in  high  boreal 
latitudes,  are  under  the  necessity  of  migrating  to  milder 
climates,  at  the  approach  of  winter.  These  northern  hosts 


THE  RUFF. 


197 


therefore  now  spread  themselves  over  Europe,  and  the  con- 
tiguous continents,  until  the  return  of  spring  invites  them 
again  to  revisit  the  north.  Different  from  the  birds  of  the 
preceding  section  of  this  genus,  the  breeding  limits  of  the 
Ruff  extend  from  the  marshes  of  England  and  Holland  to 
the  confines  of  the  Arctic  circle,  and  while  the  mass  of  the 
species  are  driven  by  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons  to  per- 
form extensive  migrations  for  the  means  of  support,  others, 
residing  in  milder  climes,  scarcely  proceed  further,  in  the 
course  of  the  winter,  than  to  the  sea-coasts  in  the  vicinity 
of  their  native  marshes.  At  any  rate,  it  appears  certain, 
that  the  Ruff,  unlike  the  sandpiper,  never  wanders  into 
tropical  climates.  Come  from  where  they  may,  they  appear 
again  in  the  eastern  parts  of  Great  Britain,  to  which  their 
visits  in  that  kingdom  are  now  wholly  confined,  about  the 
latter  end  of  April,  resorting  to  the  fens  of  Lincolnshire, 
the  Isle  of  Ely,  and  a few  other  places,  which  suit  their 
peculiar  habits. 

In  the  month  of  May,  the  male,  besides  the  red  and 
carunculated  face,  acquires  the  curious  and  ornamental  Ruff, 
which  characterizes  the  breeding  season.  It  is  scarcely 
completed  in  this  month,  and  begins  to  fall  in  the  latter  end 
of  June.  With  this  singular  decoration,  he  also  undergoes 
a complete  change  in  the  rest  of  his  plumage,  the  colours 
are  more  gay  and  brilliant ; there  is  then  a predominance 
of  rufous  and  purple  tints  among  the  others,  and  the  plain 
and  sombre  livery  of  winter  is  laid  aside. 


198 


THE  RUFF. 


Full  of  ardour  and  jealousy,  the  polygamous  Ruffs  now 
seek  out  the  company  of  the  Reeves,  and  when  they  have 
chosen  a breeding-place,  the  males,  so  remarkable  for  their 
irritability,  assemble  upon  some  contiguous  rising  spot  of 
ground,  where,  like  so  many  professed  duellists,  erecting 
the  ruff  in  a threatening  attitude,  they  take  their  stand  at  a 
small  distance  from  each  other,  and  in  their  sight,  combat 
for  the  society  of  their  favourite  females.  This  resort  for 
amorous  combat  is  at  length  so  trodden,  that  the  turf 
appears  bare,  and  this  battle-field  thus  betrays  its  company 
to  their  general  enemy  the  fowler. 

The  Ruffs  feed  chiefly  by  night,  repairing  to  the  hill  of 
contest  about  the  dawn  of  day,  and  so  pugnacious  are  they 
at  this  time,  that  they  will  often  leap  or  flirt  a yard  from 
the  ground,  towards  some  wanderer  or  company  who  hap- 
pen to  be  passing  by;  and  an  imitation  of  this  hostile 
attitude,  by  a rudely  stuffed  bird  jerked  at  the  end  of  a long 
string,  is  often  sufficient  to  decoy  the  passengers  to  alight 
in  the  snare.  The  pugnacious  disposition  of  the  Ruff,  ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Baillon,  is  exhibited  as  soon  as  they  appear 
in  April,  and  before  their  arrival  at  their  breeding-place. 
In  the  marshes  of  Montreuil-sur-Mer,  where  he  had  often 
occasion  to  follow  Them,  he  remarks,  that  their  first  object 
is  to  pair,  or  rather  to  fight  with  their  rivals,  while  the  feeble 
screams  of  the  females  rouse  and  exasperate  their  hostility, 
and  their  battles  are  often  long,  obstinate,  and  sometimes 
bloody.  The  vanquished  betakes  himself  to  flight,  but  the 


THE  RUFF. 


199 


cry  of -the  first  female  he  hears  dispels  his  fears,  and  re- 
awakens his  courage,  and  he  renews  the  conflict  if  another 
opponent  appears.  These  skirmishes  are  repeated  every 
morning  and  evening  till  their  departure,  in  May. 

As  soon  as  the  Reeves  begin  to  lay,  both  those  and  their 
mates  lay  aside  their  wildness  and  desire  of  hostility,  so 
that  the  whole  may  be  caught  with  little  effort.  As  the 
attachment  of  the  females  to  their  charge  increases,  with 
the  progress  of  incubation,  they  become  still  more  embold- 
ened in  its  defence.  At  length,  the  period  of  excitement 
subsiding,  the  males,  dropping  their  nuptial  plumage,  sink 
into  tame  and  undistinguishable  wanderers,  and  seceding 
from  the  Reeves  and  their  brood,  depart  to  their  hybernal 
seclusion,  in  some  distant  country. 

The  females,  associated  in  numbers,  commence  laying 
about  the  first  or  second  week  in  May,  and  the  young  appear 
early  in  June.  The  nest  is  formed  of  grass,  in  a tussock 
of  the  same,  in  the  most  swampy  part  of  the  marsh.  The 
eggs,  four  in  number,  very  like  those  of  the  snipe,  as  well 
as  the  nest,  are  however  larger,  of  a pale  greenish  hue,  with 
a great  number  of  small  spots  and  points  off  dusky  and 
brown.  The  Reeve  is  so  remarkably  attached  to  her  eggs, 
that  after  being  caught  on  the  nest  and  carried  some  dis- 
tance, on  being  liberated,  she  went  again  to  her  eggs,  as  if 
nothing  had  molested  her.  Indeed  the  attachment  and  cou- 
rage of  the  female  for  her  young,  seem  scarcely  less  re- 
markable than  the  pugnacious  valour  of  the  Ruff. 


200 


THE  RUFF. 


The  Ruffs,  esteemed  as  a most  delicate  game,  are  so  much 
sought  after  in  England,  as  to  be  almost  exterminated  from 
many  of  their  native  marshes,  and  sell,  when  fattened  artifi- 
cially, at  from  thirty  shillings  to  two  guineas  the  dozen. 
They  are  usually  taken  in  large  clap-nets,  erected  over  the 
mounds  that  the  Ruffs  have  selected  for  their  daily  combats. 
The  fowler,  repairing  to  the  spot  before  daylight,  spreads  his 
net,  places  his  decoy  birds  (which  are  either  real  prisoners 
of  the  species,  or  rudely  stuffed  skins),  and  takes  his  stand 
at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  forty  yards,  or 
more,  according  to  the  shyness  of  the  birds.  The  net,  sus- 
pended by  poles,  and  commanded  by  a rope  and  pulleys,  is 
at  length  pulled  over  its  victims,  and  seldom  fails  of  secur- 
ing all  within  its  reach. 

Although  their  natural  food  consists  of  worms,  and  insects 
of  the  marshes  where  they  dwell,  when  confined  they  are 
fed  and  fattened  on  milk  and  soaked  bread,  hempseed, 
sometimes  boiled  wheat,  and  to  hasten  the  process  sugar  ia 
frequently  added  to  the  rest  of  their  fare. 


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u This  will  be  a constant  furniture  for  the  minds  of  children,  that 
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THINK  BEFORE  YOU  ACT. 

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JACK,  THE  SAILOR  BOY. 

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CLEVER  STORIES  FOR  CLEVER  BOYS  AND  GIRLS. 

CONTAINING 

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GEORGE’S  JOURNEY 


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CONTENTS. 

UNCLE  JOHN’S  PICTURE  BIBLE  ALPHABET. 
UNCLE  JOHN’S  STORY  OF  BOB. 

UNCLE  JOHN’S  STORY  OF  DOWNEY  THE  MOUSE. 
UNCLE  JOHN’S  STORIES  OF  ANIMALS. 

UNCLE  JOHN’S  BIBLE  STORIES. 

UNCLE  JOHN’S  LITTLE  RHYMER. 


